Exposure to fluoridated drinking water and dental caries experience in Australian army recruits, 1996.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to investigate a group of young Australian adults to determine their caries experience and measure associations between caries experience and age, gender, socioeconomic status, education level and lifetime exposure to fluoridated water.


METHODS
This was achieved through a cross-sectional study involving Australian Army recruits seen for their initial dental examination on enlistment into the Australian Army. A total of 499 recruits had a clinical examination with the aid of bitewing radiographs and an orthopantomograph (OPG). Sociodemographic and fluoride exposure data were obtained via a questionnaire.


RESULTS
This study showed that subjects with a lifetime exposure to fluoridated water reported a 23% lower level of caries experience than subjects with no exposure to fluoridated water, with a greater effect on proximal surfaces compared to smooth and occlusal surfaces. Female subjects had a level of caries experience 25% higher than male subjects, while subjects from the lowest socioeconomic background had a level of caries experience 89% times greater than subjects from the highest socioeconomic group.


CONCLUSIONS
Although it is not possible to directly establish a causal relationship from a cross-sectional study such as this, the results from this study show a dose-response relationship which suggests that there are benefits of lifetime exposure to fluoridated drinking water through young adulthood.
Hopcraft
Matthew Scott
MS
School of Dental Science, The University of Melbourne, Australia. hopcraft@unimelb.edu.au
Morgan
Michael Vivian
MV
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004245:DMF Index; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D005457:Fluoridation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel; D011859:Radiography; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012737:Sex Factors; D012923:Social Class