ESTIMATION OF PROPHYLACTIC MEASURES IN SWEDISH PUBLIC DENTAL-HEALTH CARE - RESULTS FROM A QUESTIONNAIRE

The aim of the present investigation was to map the presence of prophy lactic measures in organized Swedish dental health care systems, focus ing on personnel working with children and adolescents, The study was conducted by sending a questionnaire to all public dental clinics in S weden (830 clinics in all). The results showed that collectively-perfo rmed prophylactic measures were given at 66% of the child health cente rs/child day care centers and at 63% of the pre-schools. 57% of all cl inics replied that they performed some kind of fluoride administration collectively (mainly fluoride varnish application or fluoride mouthri nses). 34% of all clinics used fluoride varnishes at the ages from 6 t o 12 years, and collectively-performed fluoride mouthrinsing in school s at these ages was carried out by 16% of the clinics. 26% of all the clinics answered that they aimed at increasing the time spent on proph ylactic measures compared to only 2% that were planning to decrease th is time. The remaining 72% aimed at maintaining the time spent at the present, Prophylactic measures were performed individually by 49% of t he clinics, whereas 50% of the clinics preferred a combination of indi vidually and collectively performed measures. It can be concluded that the preventive measures against dental caries in Swedish public denta l care is mainly focused on individually performed prophylaxis.