Caries Prevention Effects of Water Fluoridation Program in Suburban Area

Objectives: The aim of this study is to evaluate caries prevention effects on permanent teeth by water fluoridation program in suburban area. Methods: Evaluation surveys were conducted on 6-, 8- and 11-year old children in the fluoridated Okcheon and non-fluoridated neighboring Yeongdong County by three trained dentists for epidemiological dental survey in 2011. The total number of children in Okcheon and Yeongdong County was 686 and 627 respectively. Before dental examination and questionnaires were distributed to parents about household monthly income, caregiver's education level and family affluence scale. The effectiveness of caries reduction by community water fluoridation was estimated by the differences in DMFT and DMFS scores between Okcheon and Yeongdong County. Cofounders of subject gender, household monthly income, caregiver's education level, family affluence scale and mean number of fissure sealed teeth and tooth surfaces were controlled to estimate the effectiveness of caries reduction. Results: Among 6-, 8- and 11-year old children, 51.2% of DMFT scores (Okcheon 0.41 vs Yeongdong 0.80) and 51.7% of DMFS scores (Okcheon 0.62 vs Yeongdong 1.20) in fluoridated Okcheon County were reduced compared to children of non-fluoridated Yeongdong County. On the other hand, 49.3% of pit and fissure DMFS scores (Okcheon 0.36 vs Yeongdong 0.71) and 44.9% of smooth surface DMFS scores (Okcheon 0.27 vs Yeongdong 0.49) in fluoridated Okcheon County were reduced compared to children of non-fluoridated Yeongdong County. Conclusions: These results suggest that the effectiveness of caries reduction on permanent teeth by the community water fluoridation program in Okcheon County was so high that the community water fluoridation program in suburban area should be expended to other areas in Korea.