Is there a long-term caries-preventive effect of sugar restrictions during World War II?

Abstract

Wartime decrease in caries prevalence among children explained by restrictions in sugar availability and consumption is widely documented. The aim of the present investigation was to study possible long-term effects of this regimen on dental caries. Norwegian age cohorts who were 7 years old during World War II were reexamined in 1983. On the basis of DMF recordings of their first permanent molars, a long-lasting beneficial effect of the wartime caries decrease could not be demonstrated.

Key Words:

• Caries epidemiology
• clinical recordings
• DMF scores