Reduction of Dental Caries Among Children and Adolescents From a 15-Year Community Water Fluoridation Program in a Township Area, Korea

Han-Na Kim, Wook-Sung Kong, Jung-Ha Lee and Jin-Bom Kim
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Han-Na Kim: Department of Dental Hygiene, College of Health and Medical Sciences, Cheongju University, Cheongju 28503, Korea
Wook-Sung Kong: Department of Preventive and Community Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Pusan National University, Yangsan 50612, Korea
Jung-Ha Lee: Department of Preventive and Community Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Pusan National University, Yangsan 50612, Korea
Jin-Bom Kim: Department of Preventive and Community Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Pusan National University, Yangsan 50612, Korea

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 7, 1-13

Abstract: Since 2000, a community water fluoridation program (CWFP) has been implemented in Hapcheon for over 15 years. We aimed to evaluate the caries-reducing effect on permanent teeth after this implementation. In 2015, evaluation surveys were conducted by our study group, 498 subjects aged 8, 10, 12, and 15 years. As the control, 952 similarly aged subjects were selected from the Sixth Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2013-2015 KNHANES). Data of a prospective cohort of 671 8-,10- and 12-year-olds, collected when CWFP started, were used for the evaluation. Caries-reducing effects were estimated by decayed, missing and filled teeth (DMFT) scores between CWFP and control groups, pre- and post-program. Confounders including the mean number of sealant teeth and gender were adjusted for. The mean adjusted DMFT scores of 10-, 12- and 15-year-olds in Hapcheon were significantly lower compared to KNHANES DMFT scores; in addition, those of 8-, 10- and 12-year-olds after the 15-year CWFP were significantly lower than in 2000. The caries-reducing effect among 12-year-olds was 37.6% compared to those recorded in KNHANES, and 67.4% compared to those in 2000. In conclusion, the caries-reducing effect was so high that health policy makers should consider CWFP as a priority policy for caries-reducing in Korean children and adolescents.

Keywords: caries prevention; dental caries; DMFT; fluoride; permanent teeth; water fluoridation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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