[Dental caries and dental erosion among 5- and 6-year old and 11- and 12-year old school children in the Hague, the Netherlands. Changing prevalences?]

In 2002 a dental survey amongst 6- and 12-year-old schoolchildren in The Hague had been carried out. The 2002 survey suggested that in the period 1996-2002 the caries prevalence (% of cariesfree children) and the caries experience (mean dmfs/dmft scores) among 6-year-old children did not have changed significantly. Children of low socio-economic status in 2002 had an average higher dmfs/dmft count compared to 6-year-olds of medium and high SES. However, the survey suggested in the period 1996-2002 a significant increase of cariesfree 12-year-old children in low SES. Among 12-year-olds socio-economic differences in caries experience of the permanent dentition have diminished in 2002. In 1998 and 2002 respectively 3 and 23% of the 12-year-olds showed the prevalence of any dental erosion. This increase of the prevalence of dental erosion is in agreement with data from other European countries