Caries prevalence in Ashkelon children in 1994.

In the five-year-old group, 182 children were examined, ninety males and ninety-two females. Forty-three percent of the children were found to be caries-free with a dmf(t) of 2.08 + 2.64 (mean +/- S.D.). More boys than girls were caries-free (46 percent vs 41 percent). In general, caries prevalence is lower and dental health is better in boys than girls. The f(t) component is 0. Children at this age are not treated. In the twelve-year-olds group, 129 boys and 132 girls (total of 261) were examined. Forty-one percent of the children were found to be caries-free with a DMF(T) of 1.43 + 1.70. In this group more girls than boys were caries-free (43 percent vs 39 percent). In general caries prevalence is higher, treatment levels are lower in boys than in girls in this age-group. The results show that dental health is better in Ashkelon children than in other partly fluoridated areas in Israel. Dental treatment levels are higher and caries prevalence is lower in Ashkelon than in comparable places in the country. The WHO goals for 2000 were achieved in Ashkelon by 1994.