Changes in the percentage of 5-year-old children with no experience of decay in Dudley towns since the implementation of fluoridation schemes in 1987

Abstract

Objective: To compare changes in dental health between non-fluoridated Stourbridge and the towns of Dudley, Sedgeley and Coseley, Brierley Hill and Kingswinford, and Halesowen that were artificially fluoridated in 1987.

Basic research design: BASCD co-ordinated studies of total samples of 5-year-old children.

Clinical settings: State funded primary schools in the Dudley Health Authority area.

Participants: All 5-year-old children present on the day of examination in the years in which total population studies were conducted.

Interventions: Drinking water fluoridation commenced in 1987.

Main outcome measure: The percentage of children with no experience of decay in their primary dentition.

Results: The percentage of children with no experience of decay in the fluoridated towns increased but remained the same in non-fluoridated Stourbridge.

Conclusion: Drinking water fluoridation is associated with an increase in the percentage of 5-year-old children with no experience of tooth decay.