A PROGRAM OF PREVENTIVE DENTISTRY CARRIED OUT IN AUVERGNE, FRANCE - ONE-YEAR RESULTS

A pilot program in preventive dentistry has been carried out since 199 2 in Auvergne (France). In this program, children of artisans and shop keepers from 4 to 15 year-old have an annual dental consultation with the dentist of their choice. Dental care when related to dental car ie prevention and treatment is free of charge. From September 1992 to Se ptember 1993, 48% of the 4 and 5 year-old children (n = 1040) to whom the program had been adressed went to the dentist for this consultatio n. Preventive dental treatments such as sealants and professional topi cal fluoride applications were rarely performed. However, a fluoride s upport was prescribed to 70% of the participants. Moreover, 75% of the children displaying caries at the time of the first consultation rece ived appropriate curative dental treatments.