title: Caries prevalence and manganese and iron levels of drinking water in school children living in a rural/semi-urban region of North-Eastern Greece.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to correlate different combinations of manganese (Mn) and iron (Fe) concentration in drinking water with prevalence of dental caries in both primary and permanent dentition, among school children with similar socio-demographic characteristics.
  
  
  METHODS
  Evros region, in North-Eastern Greece, was divided into four areas, according to combinations of levels of Mn and Fe in drinking water (High Mn-high Fe; High Mn-low Fe; Low Mn-high Fe; Low Mn-low Fe). Children of similar socio-economic background, attending either first or sixth grade (primary or permanent dentition, respectively) of elementary schools, were clinically assessed for caries by three dentists. Caries was defined by the use of dmft/DMFT index. A questionnaire answered by the parents was also analysed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  573 children were included. Caries prevalence was high in both age groups (64.2 % with mean dmft 3.3 ± 3.6 in primary and 60.7 % with mean DMFT 2.3 ± 2.5 in permanent dentition, respectively). Residence in a high Mn-low Fe area was associated with a significant OR for caries in both age groups [OR (95 % CIs) for primary and permanent dentition was, respectively, 3.75 (1.68-8.37), p = 0.001 and 3.09 (1.48-6.44), p = 0.003], independently of factors like sugar consumption or brushing frequency.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prevalence of caries was high in general, and was associated with the combination of high Mn/low Fe levels in drinking water, independently of various socio-demographic factors.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Hygiene and Environmental Protection, Medical School, Democritus University of Thrace, Pre-clinical Educational Block-Building Nr 5, University Campus, Dragana, 68100, Alexandroupolis, Greece.|Department of Public Health, Region of East Macedonia-Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece.
authors.forename: Eirini
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tsanidou
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Hygiene and Environmental Protection, Medical School, Democritus University of Thrace, Pre-clinical Educational Block-Building Nr 5, University Campus, Dragana, 68100, Alexandroupolis, Greece. enena@med.duth.gr.
authors.forename: Evangelia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nena
authors.affiliation: Private Dental Practice, Alexandroupolis, Greece.
authors.forename: Alexandros
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rossos
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics and Paedoprosthetics, Moscow State University of Medicine and Dentistry, Moscow, Russian Federation.
authors.forename: Zhanna
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Lendengolts
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Hygiene and Environmental Protection, Medical School, Democritus University of Thrace, Pre-clinical Educational Block-Building Nr 5, University Campus, Dragana, 68100, Alexandroupolis, Greece.
authors.forename: Christos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nikolaidis
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Hygiene and Environmental Protection, Medical School, Democritus University of Thrace, Pre-clinical Educational Block-Building Nr 5, University Campus, Dragana, 68100, Alexandroupolis, Greece.
authors.forename: Athanasios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tselebonis
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Hygiene and Environmental Protection, Medical School, Democritus University of Thrace, Pre-clinical Educational Block-Building Nr 5, University Campus, Dragana, 68100, Alexandroupolis, Greece.
authors.forename: Theodoros C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Constantinidis
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D060766:Drinking Water / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece / Q000453:epidemiology; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000032:analysis*; D008345:Manganese / Q000032:analysis*; D009910:Oral Hygiene / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015995:Prevalence; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
chemical_list: D060766:Drinking Water; D008345:Manganese; D007501:Iron
keywords: Dental caries; Drinking water; Iron; Manganese; Trace elements