title: Dental caries of lifetime residents in Baixo Guandu, Brazil, fluoridated since 1953--a brief communication.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to verify the dental caries prevalence in Baixo Guandu, the first Brazilian city to fluoridate its public water supplies; to compare the findings with the data from the national survey; and also to compare the prevalence in the 12-year-old age group with the data obtained before the beginning of the fluoridation.
  
  
  METHODS
  All the lifetime residents aged 5, 12, 15 to 19, and 35 to 44 years old were clinically examined (World Health Organization).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The means of dmft/DMFT were lower than in the Brazilian population living in fluoridated communities. The DMFT Index in 12-year-old residents decreased between 1953 and 2005 from 8.61 to 1.55.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The addition of fluoride to public water supplies was an important ally in the improvement of the oral health of Baixo Guandu inhabitants.
authors.affiliation: Preventive and Social Dentistry Program, UNESP - São Paulo State University, Araçatuba, São Paulo, Brazil. nemre@foa.unesp.br
authors.forename: Nemre Adas
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Saliba
authors.forename: Suzely A S
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Moimaz
authors.forename: Cézar A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Casotti
authors.forename: Ana V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Pagliari
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004245:DMF Index; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005457:Fluoridation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D015995:Prevalence; D014094:Tooth, Deciduous / Q000473:pathology; D014504:Urban Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data