title: The effect of fluoridation on the dental health of urban Scottish Schoolchildren.
abstract: A comparison was made of the dental health of children aged 4-5 and 9-10 in two Scottish towns, one with fluoridated drinking water and the other without. Striking differences were observed. A 44% reduction in decayed, missing, and filled deciduous teeth was found in 4-5 year-olds in the fluoridated compared with the non-fluoridated town and a 50% reduction in decayed, missing, and filled permanent teeth was recorded for the 9-10-year-olds. Larger percentage differences were found for the anterior teeth: a 65% reduction in deciduous incisors and canines, and an 81% reduction in permanent incisors and canines. Fluoridation of public water supplies in urban areas of Scotland would be a safe and effective way of dramatically improving dental health.
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000517:prevention & control; D003753:Dental Health Surveys; D005457:Fluoridation; D006801:Humans; D012606:Scotland; D014505:Urban Population