Changes in the percentage of 5-year-old children with no experience of decay in Dudley towns since the implementation of fluoridation schemes in 1987.
OBJECTIVE
To compare changes in dental health between non-fluoridated Stourbridge and the towns of Dudley, Sedgeley and Coseley, Brierley Hill and Kingswinford, and Halesowen that were artificially fluoridated in 1987.


METHODS
BASCD co-ordinated studies of total samples of 5-year-old children.


METHODS
State funded primary schools in the Dudley Health Authority area.


METHODS
All 5-year-old children present on the day of examination in the years in which total population studies were conducted.


METHODS
Drinking water fluoridation commenced in 1987.


METHODS
The percentage of children with no experience of decay in their primary dentition.


RESULTS
The percentage of children with no experience of decay in the fluoridated towns increased but remained the same in non-fluoridated Stourbridge.


CONCLUSIONS
Drinking water fluoridation is associated with an increase in the percentage of 5-year-old children with no experience of tooth decay.
Dental Public Health, Dudley Health Authority, UK. margaret_mary_gray@hotmail.com
M M
MM
Gray
J
J
Davies-Slowik
D002675:Child, Preschool; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D005457:Fluoridation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans