DENTAL-CARIES PREVENTION THROUGH APF GEL- TRAY APPLICATIONS EACH 6 MONTHS

998 children aged 6. 8 and 10, from low income families living in the Federal District, Brazil and attending public, first grade, schools, r eceived bi-annual topical APF Gel-Tray applications. The mass methodol ogy proposed by the National Dental Caries Preventive Program of the B razilian Ministry of Health, without previous prophylaxis, was adopted . After one year, in fluoridated communities the reduction in the inci dence of CPOS was of 31.6%, 24.9% and 39.5%, respectively, for the gro ups aged 6, 8 and 10. In non fluoridated communities the reductions we re, respectively, of 24.3%, 26.6% and 27.7%, in every case with statis tic Significance at the 95% confidence level. Considering the positiVe results in a developing area, it is recommended that oral health inst itutions at all levels could adopt a comprehensive and continuous prev entive program for children under their responsibility.