Viljo Nyyssönen

Occlusal characteristics in groups of Tanzanian and Finnish urban schoolchildren

The occurrence of different occlusal and space anomalies was studied in groups of 642 Tanzanian and 458 Finnish school-children. Similar diagnostic criteria and methods were used in both countries. The Finnish children had significantly higher prevalences of distal occlusion and crowding and a lower prevalence of anterior openbite than the Tanzanian children. The proportion of subjects with no occlusal or space anomalies was considerably higher among the Tanzanians than among the Finns, 55% and 12% to 22%, respectively. The distinct differences found in occlusion of Tanzanian and Finnish children in this study seem to reflect differences in hereditary or environmental factors, which are expressed as craniofacial or dentoalveolar differences between these ethnic groups.

Oral health in Finland and the Soviet Union. A joint study.

To develop the functions of a health care system it is essential to compare and evaluate the systems of different countries. The World Health Organization (WHO) has emphasized the importance of collaborative studies in the field of epidemiology. In countries with similar social systems the basis for health care is usually the same. Comparison of health care in such countries is relatively easy because in most cases the criteria for functions, diagnosis, etc. are similar. Comparison of countries having different bases for health care and different philosophies of research is much more complicated and time-consuming. Soviet health care, including oral health care, is based on community responsibility and has complex prophylaxis as its main emphasis. In the USSR there are no private dentists. All dental services are available at polyclinics located either near the place of residence or at the work place. In Finland there are two separate systems for oral health care. Children up to the age of 18 and some special groups of the adult population (pregnant women, military recruits, and students) are treated in municipal polyclinics (called health centres in Finland). Otherwise, the adult population is treated mainly by private dentists. The study will be carried out in three towns in Finland and six towns in the USSR. The aim of this study is to describe the causal epidemiology of dental caries among children 6 to 7, 9 and 12 years old in Finland and the Soviet Union. In addition, certain measures and compounds for caries prevention will be tested during 3 years of follow-up. Our results will help the authorities of both countries to develop and replan the functions of communal dental care for the populations included in this study.