Enamel defects and dental caries in 9-year-old children living in fluoridated and nonfluoridated areas of Auckland, New Zealand

Kanagaratnam, S., Schluter, P., Durward, C., Mahood, R. and Mackay, T. (2009) Enamel defects and dental caries in 9-year-old children living in fluoridated and nonfluoridated areas of Auckland, New Zealand. Community Dentistry And Oral Epidemiology, 37 3: 250-259.


Author Kanagaratnam, S.
Schluter, P.
Durward, C.
Mahood, R.
Mackay, T.
Title Enamel defects and dental caries in 9-year-old children living in fluoridated and nonfluoridated areas of Auckland, New Zealand
Formatted title Enamel defects and dental caries in 9-year-old children living in
fluoridated and nonfluoridated areas of Auckland, New Zealand
Journal name Community Dentistry And Oral Epidemiology  (ERA 2012 Listed)    (ERA 2010 Rank A)   Check publisher's open access policy
Publication date 2009-06
Sub-type Article
Year available 2009
DOI 10.1111/j.1600-0528.2009.00465.x
Volume number 37
Issue number 3
ISSN 0301-5661
Start page 250
End page 259
Total pages 10
Editor A. John Spencer
Place of publication Denmark
Publisher Wiley-Blackwell Munksgaard
Collection year 2010
Language eng
Subject C1
110599 Dentistry not elsewhere classified
111706 Epidemiology
920402 Dental Health
Formatted abstract Objectives: This epidemiological study aims to investigate the
developmental enamel defects and dental caries among 9-year-old children resident in fluoridated and nonfluoridated regions in Auckland, New Zealand.
Methods: A stratified, two-stage random selection design where strata were defined by fluoridation status, school size, and school decile. After
informed consent was obtained, parents completed oral health questionnaires and children underwent dental examinations at school clinics.

Results: 612 children from 38 schools participated in the study. Overall, 175 (29%) children had lived continuously in fluoridated areas, 149 (24%) had lived continuously in nonfluoridated areas, and 288 (47%) had resided intermittently in fluoridated areas. Diffuse opacities were present in 117 (19%) children and deciduous teeth dental caries was seen in 370 (60%) children. After adjustment for covariates, a strong dose–response relationship between diffuse opacity and fluoridation status was found, with children who lived continuously in fluoridated areas being 4.17 times as likely to have diffuse opacities as children who lived continuously in nonfluoridated areas (P < 0.001). Conversely, a strong protective dose–response relationship between caries experience and fluoridation status was seen, with children who lived continuously in fluoridated areas being 0.42 times as likely to have dental caries as children who lived continuously in nonfluoridated areas (P < 0.001).

Conclusions: Reticulated water fluoridation in Auckland reduces the risk of dental caries but increases the risk of diffuse opacities in 9-year-old
children. Guidelines and health-promotion strategies that enable children to
minimize their risk to diffuse opacities yet reduce their risk of dental caries
should be reviewed.
Keyword caries
diffuse opacities
epidemiology
fluoridation
public health
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