Fluoride in Water Supply
Lora Lee AaronKimsey CooperLindsey French
Kayla KmetLindsey SmithJacki Strand
Fluoride Functions
• Protects against dental caries• Helps prevent demineralization of bones and
teeth• Effects on pre and post eruptive teeth• Adequate Intake• Deficiencies and Toxicities
Pro’s: Fluoride in Water Supply
• Remineralization of teeth– Saliva– Water– Topical Treatments
• Effects on enamel• Cariostatic effects on plaque
Fluoride Research Study
• “Assessment, management, and prevention of early childhood caries”
• Administration of topical treatments to children– 35% reduction in early childhood caries– 9 visits in the first 2 years of life
Fluoride Varnish
Fluoride Research Study
• “Dental benefits of limited exposure to fluoridated water in childhood”
• Administering fluoridated water to children living in non-fluoridated communities– Mineralization effects dentists observed on teeth– Limited exposure beneficial
US States with Fluoridated Water
Fluoride in Knoxville Water Supply
• Fluoride was added to Knoxville’s water supply only 6 years ago, and since then dental decay in our area has been reduced by 90%.
• http://www.volunteertv.com/home/headlines/14119172.html
Con: Fluoride in the Water Supply
Examples of Dental Fluorosis
http://neevio.com/Fluoride/Images/fluoride_effects_web_30cm.jpg
Example of Child with Skeletal Fluorosis
http://selianlh.habari.co.tz/ortho_institute/Fluorosis_pre-op.jpg
Objective
• To prove that too much fluoride in the water supply can be harmful.
Methods
• Experiment 1: Dental Fluorosis and Caries Experience in Relation to Three Different Drinking Water Fluoride Levels in South Africa.– Children’s dental health examined in 3 different
regions in South Africa 1) Leeu Gamka 3.0 ppm of fluoride
2) Kuboes .48 ppm of fluoride 3) Sanddrif .19 ppm of fluoride
Results
• Prevalence of Fluorosis1) Leeu Gamka 95% (3.0 ppm)2) Kuboes 50% (.48 ppm)3) Sanddrif 47% (.19 ppm)
• 30% of children in Leeu Gamka had severe fluorosis.-severe fluorosis was only seen in this region with the exception of one child.
ResultsArea n Mean age (years) % caries-free % Fluorosis free
Sanddrif, 0·19 p.p.m. F 47 11.77 47 38Kuboes, 0·48 p.p.m. F 115 12.01 50 40Leeu Gamka, 3·0 p.p.m. F 120 11.48 29 1
Methods
• Experiment 2: Incidence of Skeletal Deformities in Endemic Fluorosis.-assessed the skeletal deformities as
result of fluoride in the water supply.-people aged 20-80 had been exposed to
between 2.3 and 22.5 mg/L of fluoride in their drinking water for more than 15 years in one region in India.
Results
• More people in 30 to 40 and the 50 to 60 age ranges had skeletal fluorosis compared to the 70 to 80 age range.
• Skeletal fluorosis more common in males• Lower socioeconomic group more affected by
skeletal fluorosis.
Summary
• Studies show excess Fluoride in the drinking water can be harmful.
• Dental Abnormalities and Skeletal Deformities associated with highly fluoridated drinking water.
• Excess Fluoride is positively correlated with tooth decay.