In the Republic of Ireland (ROI) 73% of the population have domestic water fluoridation up to 1ppm. There is no water fluoridation in the North of Ireland (NI). Before water fluoridation, in the early 1960s, studies indicated that caries levels in the two jurisdictions were similar. Objective: to compare caries levels amongst children and adolescents with fluoridated domestic water supplies in the ROI with those of children and adolescents in the Non Fluoridated NI. Methods: A team of trained and calibrated dentists examined a representative, random sample of 5-, 8-, 12- and 15-year old children in the ROI and NI. Caries was recorded at the dentinal level of involvement using WHO criteria with the addition of coding for caries that was visibly into dentine but had not cavitated. The mouth was illuminated using a portable dental light source. The fieldwork was conducted in 2001/2002 in both areas. Preliminary results are presented here for 5- and 15-year-olds. Results: 3643 5-year-olds and 2107 15-year-olds in ROI whose domestic water supply had been fluoridated since birth, and 508 5-year-old and 289 15-year-old children in NI who did not have exposure to water fluoridation were clinically examined. For 5-year-olds the mean dmft was 1.4 in fluoridated areas in ROI and 2.4 in NI (p < 0.0001). For 15-year-olds the mean DMFT was 2.6 amongst those in fluoridated areas in ROI and 4.5 in NI (p < 0.0001). Conclusion: caries levels in primary and permanent teeth were significantly lower amongst children and adolescents who were lifetime residents of Fluoridated areas in ROI as compared with those who had no exposure to water fluoridation in NI.

Supported by the Department of Health and Children in Dublin and the Department of Health, Personal Social Services and Public Safety in Belfast.

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