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Within the framework of an averaging study (clinical examination combined with written questionnaire) an attempt was made to determine the extent to which theoretical and practical knowledge of caries prophylaxis influences the behaviour and dental health of school children. Mean DF and DMF levels, it was demonstrated, are significantly reduced in children who know more; also, a higher percentage of children reported brushing their teeth more than once a day. In spite of this, a considerable discrepancy is noticed between knowledge and behaviour. Improved integration of dental hygiene instruction in the school day could improve school children's motivation to change their behaviour on a lasting basis.

An epidemiological study on caries in 1,091 primary school pupils in the Rems-Murr area revealed improvement in oral health as compared with results of earlier studies in the Federal Republic of Germany. For example, 31.4% of first-form pupils and 16.1% of fourth-form pupils were shown to have naturally healthy teeth (DMF-T + dmf-t = 0). The average DMF-T(S) values were between 0.39 (0.5) for six-year-olds and 2.02 (2.74) for ten-year-olds. The average percent of treated permanent teeth in six (ten)-year-old pupils was determined to be 20.5 (46.5)%. The pronounced polarisation of the individual values is, however, of of ater significance in developing programmes for caries prophylaxis than are these average values: Only 22% of the children accounted for approx. 70% of the carious, missing or filled permanent teeth. Carious defects in the permanent teeth of six and seven-year-old pupils were found almost exclusively in the fissures and pits of the six-year molars. An improvement in the oral health of the above-named age groups can only be achieved by means of specific and individual prophylaxis programmes.