The impact of a reduction in fluoride concentration in the Malaysian water supply on the prevalence of fluorosis and dental caries

Mohd Nor NA; Chadwick BL; Farnell DJJ; Chestnutt IG

doi:10.1111/cdoe.12407

The impact of a reduction in fluoride concentration in the Malaysian water supply on the prevalence of fluorosis and dental caries

Mohd Nor NA ¹ , Chadwick BL ² , Farnell DJJ ² , Chestnutt IG ²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Community Oral Health and Clinical Prevention, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
² Department of Applied Clinical Research and Dental Public Health, Cardiff University School of Dentistry, Cardiff, UK

Community Dent Oral Epidemiol, 2018 10;46(5):492-499.

PMID: 30019792 DOI: 10.1111/cdoe.12407

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence and severity of dental fluorosis and caries among Malaysian children following the reduction in fluoride concentration from 0.7 to 0.5 parts per million (ppm) in the public water supply.

METHODS: This study involved lifelong residents aged 9- and 12-year-olds in fluoridated and nonfluoridated areas in Malaysia (n = 1155). In the fluoridated area, children aged 12 years and 9 years were exposed to 0.7 and 0.5 ppm, respectively, at the times when maxillary central incisors developed. Standardized photographs of maxillary central incisors were blind scored for fluorosis using Dean's criteria. Dental caries was examined using ICDAS-II criteria.

RESULTS: The prevalence of fluorosis (Dean's score ≥ 2) among children in the fluoridated area (35.7%, 95% CI: 31.9%-39.6%) was significantly higher (P

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.