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The purpose of the present study was to analyse the epidemiologic relationship between dental health behaviors and periodontal disease. Indicators of periodontal disease in terms of bleeding and calculus were measured dichotomously (absence/presence). Periodontal pockets were as follows: normal pockets (0-3 mm), shallow pockets (4-5 mm), and deep pockets (6+ mm). The indicators were measured on 4 surfaces on 6 index teeth (16, 11, 26, 36, 31, 46) in 1984-85. The highest value for each tooth of bleeding (0/1), calculus (0/1) and pockets (0/1/2) was used for calculation of the bleeding index, the calculus index and the pocket index. The participation rate in 1984-85 was 86%, and the study population involved 368 males and 388 females. Information concerning dental health behavior was obtained both in childhood (1974) when the individuals were 9-10 years of age, and in adulthood (1984-85) when the individuals were 20-21 years of age. Information concerning dental health behaviors in adulthood, i.e., regularity of dental visits, frequency of tooth brushing, and regular use of interdental aids, was obtained through a self-administered questionnaire (1984-85). Dental health behaviors in childhood (1974) was operationalized as level of plaque, gingivitis, and dmfs. The results showed that dental health behaviors in childhood and in adulthood were together responsible for 9.4-13.8% of the variance in level of periodontal disease indicators. Determinants of early dental health behaviors in terms of plaque and dmfs at age 9-10 years were significant predictors in pocket index at age 20-21.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The purpose of the investigation was to compare the caries prevalence (DMF-T) among 762 7th grade children, of whom one-half had never received school dental care. The children were grouped according to social status in order to see if there was any difference in the caries prevalence between the social groups. The caries prevalence in children both with and without school dental service was high, 9.5 DMF-T and 10.5 DMF-T. The prevalence of untreated caries and secondary caries was lowest in the group with school dental service.

One of the objectives of organized school dental service is to create ability and willingness among young adults to maintain a preventive oral health care, e.g. regular dental visits. In order to investigate the decisions about and plans for dental care among school dental service leavers a questionnaire was sent to a probability sample of 258 young adults who had finished ninth grade eight months earlier. The participation rate of the Youth Dental Program (YDP) was approximately 90%. The drop-outs were made up of at least two rather distinct groups. One of them was dominated by subjects with a high social background and they chose to a great extent care in private practice. The other group was dominated by young men with a low social background. They finished school early and expressed pessimistic expectations to the life-time of their own teeth.

In order to evaluate the effect of school dental care on the prevalence of gingivitis in children, two groups of children in the 7th grade (approx. age 13-14 years) were compared, only one of the groups having had school dental service. A total of 758 children from eight different provincial towns in Denmark were studied. Gingivitis was recorded by the method of Löe & Silness. The results are given as the average sum of sound, inflamed, and severely inflamed gingival zones and in frequency tables. There were only small differences between those children who had had school dental service and those who had never received it.