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.