title: The Dental Health of primary school children living in fluoridated, pre-fluoridated and non-fluoridated communities in New South Wales, Australia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Local Government Area of Gosford implemented a water fluoridation scheme in 2008. Therefore the opportunity was taken to record the dental health of primary school children aged 5-7 years prior to the fluoridation and compare the results with other communities in NSW with different access to fluoridated water. The aim was to compare the oral health of New South Wales (Australia)s 5-7 year olds living in fluoridated, and non- fluoridated communities. One of the areas was due to implement water fluoridation and is termed the pre-fluoridation site.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pupils in the first year of Public and Catholic Schools in three areas of NSW were recruited. Class lists were used to draw a sample of approximately 900 per area. This number allowed for a non-response rate of up to 30 per cent and would give a sample sufficient numbers to allow statistical inferences to be drawn. Children whose parents consented received a dental examination and the clinical data was collected on mark sense cards.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the 3 areas the proportion of children who received a dental examination varied; 77.5% (n = 825) for the fluoridated area, 80.1% (n = 781) for the pre-fluoridated area and 55.3% (n = 523) for the non-fluoridated area. The mean dmft was 1.40 for the fluoridated area, 2.02 for the pre-fluoridated area and 2.09 for the non-fluoridated area. These differences were statistically significant (p < 0.01). Differences were also noted in the proportion of children who were caries free, 62.6% fluoridated area, 50.8% for the pre-fluoride area and 48.6% for the non-fluoride location.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The children living in the well-established fluoridated area had less dental caries and a higher proportion free from disease when compared with the other two areas which were not fluoridated. Fluoridation demonstrated a clear benefit in terms of better oral health for young children.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Dentistry, University of Sydney, 1 Mons Road, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia. anthony.blinkhorn@sydney.edu.au.
authors.forename: Anthony S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Blinkhorn
authors.forename: Roy
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Byun
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Pathik
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Metha
authors.forename: Meredith
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kay
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lewis
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D000067576:Child Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004245:DMF Index; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005457:Fluoridation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D009517:New South Wales / Q000453:epidemiology; D009909:Oral Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015995:Prevalence; D012423:Rural Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012923:Social Class; D014094:Tooth, Deciduous / Q000473:pathology; D014504:Urban Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data