[Total frequency of dental caries in the Canton of Vaud after the transition from fluoride tablets to fluoridation of table salt]

Abstract

This report shows results of a survey on dental caries in the canton of Vaud in the years 1970 and 1974. In this canton fluoridation was carried out by means of fluoride tablets distributed at school until 1969/70 and in subsequent years by adding 250 mg F/kg fluoride to domestic salt. For comparison, results from adjoining and other cantons are also presented. In 1970 the 3 communities in the canton of Vaud (Moudon, Grandson and Vevey) showed a remarkably low overall caries level due to the distribution of fluoride tablets, supplemented in Grandson with regular brushings with fluoride solutions. When the fluoride tablets were discontinued in 1968/70 and fluoridated domestic salt containing 250 mg F/kg NaCl was introduced, caries incidence reached an even lower level. In these 3 communities caries prevalence fell to the lowest level reached, so far, by means preventive measures in Bettlach (canton of Solothurn, toothbrushing with fluoride solutions 6 times per year combined with information, fluoride tablets on every school day, and in addition consumption of table salt fluoridated at a suboptimal level of 90 ppm). The children in the control communities Romont (canton of Fribourg), St-Aubin (canton of Neuchâtel) and Châtel-St-Denis (canton of Fribourg) also showed decreases of caries levels from 1970 to 1974. This decrease is attributed to the distribution of fluoride tablets started at the schools of this community in the late sixties. Caries incidence in the age spans 8 to 12 and 10 to 14 years was estimated. Children from the canton of Vaud where fluoridated table salt was practically the only preventive measure showed a smaller DMF increase than those from the cantons of Fribourg and Neuchâtel. By means of a method combining DMF means of various age groups it was possible to obtain sufficiently large numbers of children for a study of the caries prevalence in each community. All communities showed a decrease of caries levels. In the canton of Vaud this reduction started in 1970 at an already low level and in 1974 reached consistently lower values than those of the control communities of the cantons of Fribourg and Neuchâtel.