Water fluoridation in the Blue Mountains reduces risk of tooth decay

Abstract

Background: In April 1992, the fluoride concentration in the Blue Mountains water supply was adjusted to 1 mg ⁄ L. Baseline dmft ⁄ DMFT has been determined in children attending schools in the region and in the adjacent reference region of Hawkesbury, fluoridated since 1968. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the water fluoridation programme in the Blue Mountains. Methods: In 2003, children attending the same schools were sampled. Residential history data were obtained by questionnaire and caries experience was assessed according to WHO guidelines. The analysis was restricted to lifelong resident children aged 5-11 years. Results: The baseline and follow-up dmft scores for Blue Mountains children aged 5-8 years were 2.36 and 0.67, respectively. The age-adjusted decrease in odds of experiencing one or more dmft due to fluoridation was 0.26 (CI 95 0.19, 0.37). The corresponding DMFT scores for Blue Mountains children aged 8-11 were 0.76 and 0.21 and the corresponding decrease in odds of experiencing one or more DMFT due to fluoridation was 0.25 (CI 95 0.16, 0.40). Conclusions: Tooth decay reduction observed in the Blue Mountains corresponds to high rates reported elsewhere and demonstrates the substantial benefits of water fluoridation.

Does fluoride in the water close the dental caries gap between Indigenous and non‐Indigenous children?

“…8,9 Individual studies globally, as well as numerous systematic reviews, in both urban and rural communities, show that fluoridating water is an effective, equitable and cost-effective measure to reduce the burden of dental caries in children and adults. [10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18] Recent studies in Canada and Korea demonstrate that fluoridation has a beneficial effect across socioeconomic groups; and these benefits are especially significant amongst those with the poorest oral health. 19,20 Fluoridation, however, may be absent in poorer and smaller communities, who often suffer a greater burden of dental caries.…”

Volume 21 Number 11 & 12

“…This may indicate that water fluoridation reduces the risk for dental decay, as noted in other publications from NSW. [11][12][13] This was not, however, the case for the primary dentition. The finding that the differences in caries prevalence were not statistically significant for primary teeth may have been due to differences in the populations sampled in the three communities.…”

“…Confidence intervals for proportions were calculated using the method of Fleiss. 11 Chi-square tests were used for bivariate analyses. Multivariate logistic regression included pre, post, age and gender as predictors of smoking cessation rates to determine age-adjusted pre to post changes.…”

“…Multivariate logistic regression included pre, post, age and gender as predictors of smoking cessation rates to determine age-adjusted pre to post changes. 11 Estimates of sampling bias were determined by comparing age by gender and smoking status of the survey sample with relevant workforce and NSW Health survey data. 7,8,12 Area health service smoking and cessation rates were compared with NSW population rates obtained from NSW Health Survey data.…”

“…Since 2004, efforts by NSW Health, in partnership with area health services, the Australian Dental Association and local governments, has resulted in 94% of the NSW population having access to fluoridated water. 10 In 2003, after 10 years of water fluoridation in the Blue Mountains, Evans et al 11 found that water fluoridation had reduced the risk of one or more decayed teeth in both the primary and the permanent dentition by 65%. Researchers have reported significant differences in caries prevalence between non-fluoridated and fluoridated areas of NSW.…”