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This paper reviews published data on the caries experience of 12-year-old children in east European countries, including the 14 states of the former Soviet Union. With the exception of the Czech Republic (2.7) all DMFT indices in the east European countries were within the range of 3.1 (Bulgaria) to 5.1 (Poland). For the states of the former Soviet Union the DMFT indices were higher in the northern regions (range 3.3 in Belorussia to 7.7 in Latvia) than in the southern regions (1.2 in Tadzikistan to 3.1 in Kirgizia). Other than in southern states of the former Soviet Union, 'low' or 'moderate' caries experience (by WHO criteria) were found only in countries with developed oral health care systems. In most of the other countries implementation of oral health promotion and prevention at the community level is needed. more...