FACTORS AFFECTING CARIES EXPERIENCE IN FRENCH ADOLESCENTS

Three hundred French 14-15-yr-old adolescents were randomly selected. They were examined clinically and caries experience was determined by using the DMFS index. The aim of this investigation was to evaluate ch ildren's habits using a self-administered questionnaire, to clarify th e actual influence of well-known factors such as fluoride exposure, di et, oral hygiene and socioeconomic factors on caries experience and to stress those factors of primary importance. A multiple regression ana lysis revealed the variables which significatively contributed to expl ain DMFS scores in a final model: Age, sex, frequency of sweet consump tion, use of standard or high fluoride toothpastes, bleeding during to othbrushing, living in St Yorre (F- =0.45 mg/l). At at time when carie s experience is decreasing, it seems that fluoride supply, snacking an d oral hygiene are still independent and significant determinants of c aries experience in French adolescents.