PubMed1990
The authors subjected to dental examinations a group of children aged 12-13 years from the Kladno area and surrounding rural communities. The children from Kladno drank from birth fluoridated water from the water mains, while the rural children, where well water had a minimum fluoride content, had to rely on sodium fluoride tablets. In all children the prevalence of non-carious changes of dental tissues was assessed, the cariosity (DMF), oral hygiene (OHI) and the state of the gingiva (PI). The objective was to assess to what extent and in which indicators the urban and rural children differ. The results were compared with the status in Prague children who were not exposed to fluoride during the first years of life. The results revealed that the Kladno children differ only as regards cariosity which is significantly higher in the rural children. This finding can be explained by irregular intake of sodium fluoride tablets. As compared with Prague children, there was a marked difference in the prevalence of non-carious changes of dental tissues in favour of the children from the Kladno area. Their cariosity was also significantly lower. The results provide evidence that fluoridation of drinking water is not only the most effective way how to prevent caries but that it prevents also inadequate mineralization of dental tissues.