OBJECTIVE: To determine trends in the prevalence and severity of dental caries in 2- to 5-year-old children.BASIC RESEARCH DESIGN: Repeated cross-sectional surveys in 1981, 1983, 1985, 1987, 1989, 1991, 1994, 1997 and 2002.CLINICAL SETTING: Nursery schools in Germiston, South Africa.PARTICIPANTS: Dental caries was diagnosed by calibrated examiners using WHO criteria in 7,185 2- to 5-year-old children whose parents had given informed consent.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Caries prevalence (%), caries experience (dmft).RESULTS: Both caries prevalence and experience showed statistically significant (p < 0.001) fluctuations between study years from 1981 to 2002. A worry is an increase in rates between 1997 and 2002.CONCLUSION: There is a suggestion of a cyclical pattern to the caries rates observed.
Analysis of Variance Child, Preschool