Methods: National surveys of oral health of representative random samples of children (n=17,851) and adults (n=2,888) aged 5, 8, 12, 15, 16-24, 35-44 and 65+ were carried out in Ireland in 2002. The sample was stratified according to water fluoridation status, each subject’s fluoride history was recorded including exposure to fluoridated water, supplements and toothpaste use. Fluoridation Status was recorded as ‘Non’ when subjects had less than one year exposure to domestic water fluoridation and ‘Full’ when they either had a lifetime or at least 35 years exposure to domestic water fluoridation. Data are presented for the ‘Non’ and ‘Full’ categories for 5 to 35-44-year-old age groups. Results: The mean caries experience as measured by the dmft/DMFT index (decayed, missing and filled teeth) was lower for those with fluoridated water supplies in all instances. For example the mean dmft for primary teeth in 5-year-olds was 1.3 in the fluoridated group and 2.2 in the non fluoridated group, for 15-year-olds these figures for permanent teeth were 2.6 and 3.8 respectively and for 35-44-year-olds they were 13.7 and 16.5 respectively. Multivariate analysis was carried out to control for confounding factors such as age, gender, social class and oral health habits. Generalised Linear Modelling showed the distribution of caries scores among children and adolescents to be statistically significantly lower in the fluoridated group p<0.001. Logistic and ordered logistic regression indicated that the fluoridated adult group had statistically significantly lower caries levels (p<0.001).
Conclusion: Water fluoridation is an effective means of preventing dental caries in Irish children and adults.
External Funding: DoHC and the Health Boards