The impact of a national caries strategy in Greenland after 4 years

Abstract

Aims: (1) To describe dental health - and financial goals to be achieved with a national caries strategy in Greenland (CSG) implemented in 2008; (2) to describe the principles of CSG; (3) to report caries outcome data for the 3-and 9-year-olds in 1996, in 2008 (baseline), and in 2012; and (4) to assess the effect of CSG on the same age. Goals and Results: Ad (1) Caries status recorded ≥85% of the children; 3-year-olds in 2012:defs = 0 ≥ 80%, defs > 8 ≤ 5%; 9-year-olds in 2012: DMFS = 0 ≥ 80%;DMFS > 4 ≤ 5%. CSG should not increase the cost compared to the old programme. Ad (2) CSG focused on predetermined visits/examinations, risk-related visits, oral health promotion, and predetermined fluoride and sealing policies. Ad (3) 75% and 88% of the total cohorts of 3- and 9-year-olds in 2012 were recorded, respectively. Seventy-six percent of the 3-year-olds showed defs = 0 in 2012 compared to 64% in 2008 (P < 0.0001). DMFS = 0 data for the 9-year-olds were 65% vs 57% (P = 0.003). The cost for running CSG was comparable to the cost before 2008. Ad (4) The annual percentage increase of children with defs/DMFS = 0 after implementation of CSG was twice as high as during 1996-2008. Conclusion: The caries status improves significantly from 2008 to 2012 exemplified in the 3- and 9-year-olds without increasing the costs.