Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare oral health knowledge and behaviour in Polish 12-year-olds over the past five years. Methods: In 2000 and 2005 nation wide studies were undertaken, in which 3391 12-year olds (2000) and 2435 (2005) were chosen by stratified random sampling for clinical examination and participation in a questionnaire survey. Participants answered questions concerning factors related to oral health. Results: Mean DMFT value of 12 year old children was 3.8 in 2000 and 3.3 in 2005. Only 12.1 % of children in 2000 and 16.4 % in 2005 were caries free. The study showed a higher proportion of children who assessed the state of their teeth as very good, good/satisfactory in 2000 (81.8 %) than in 2005 (77.3 %). Slightly fewer children visited a dental office in 2005 (81.1 %) than in 2000 (83.4 %) and more of them received information from a dentist concerning the state of their oral health, tooth cleaning instruction, dietary advice and had a control visit appointment arranged in 2005 (1-9 % depending on question). It was also found that in 2005 more children had “their own” dentist than in 2000 (51.8 % and 43.0 %, respectively). The percentage of children brushing their teeth two and more times a day increased by 4 %. In 2005 most of the respondents (61.3 %) declared participation in supervised tooth brushing exercises organized in the school; only 37.5 % of examined children did so in 2000. Fewer children gave correct answers to questions concerning oral hygiene in 2005 than in 2000. Conclusions: Despite the improvement of oral health and increased preventive activity of the school and profession, school children's knowledge related to oral health is insufficient. More attention should be paid to comprehensive oral health education.

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