DENTAL-CARIES EXPERIENCE IN SCHOOLCHILDREN IN FLUORIDATED AND NONFLUORIDATED COMMUNITIES IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Abstract A cross‐sectional survey was undertaken in 1987 to measure the difference in caries experience in schoolchildren between a fluoridated (0.8 mg/L F−) and a non‐fluoridated region (0.1–0.4 mg/L F−). 3436 children aged 5–15 yr were examined. Children in the non‐fluoridated region had a higher caries experience than those in the fluoridated region. Mean differences were 1.06 dfs (95% CI = 0.66 to 1.47, P < 0.001) and 0.48 DFS (95% CI=0.23 to 0.72, P < 0.001). After adjusting for potential confounding factors (fluoride tablet consumption, socioeconomic status, number of fissure‐sealed surfaces, and mobility between regions) the relative risk of not being caries‐free in the non‐fluoridated region compared with the fluoridated region was 1.43 (95% CI = 1.21–1.70, P < 0.0001) for the primary dentition and 1.39 (95% CI = 1.18–1.63, P < 0.0001) for the permanent dentition. Copyright © 1990, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved