FLUORIDATION

Pediatricians are in an ideal position to advise families about the prevention and management of oral diseases in children. The objective of the study was to determine knowledge, attitude, and practices regarding the prevention of oral diseases among pediatricians in Italy. A systematic random sample of 1000 pediatricians received a questionnaire on socio-demographic and practice characteristics; knowledge on risk factors; attitude and practices towards the prevention of oral diseases. A total of 507 pediatricians participated. More than half knew the main risk factors for oral diseases and this knowledge was higher in primary care pediatricians (p = 0.007), in those with a higher number of hours worked per week (p = 0.012), and who believed that oral diseases may be prevented (p = 0.017). Pediatricians with higher knowledge about the main risk factors (p = 0.006) believe that they have an important role in preventing oral diseases and that they can perform an oral examination. Almo...

O tratamento ortodôntico envolve procedimentos, geralmente, realizados durante um longo período. No ato da remoção do aparelho, freqüentemente, são encontradas áreas de desmineralização sob braquetes e bandas, quando já não há cavitações e, na maioria das vezes, inflamações dos tecidos periodontais. Para evitar estas iatrogenias, o clínico geral ou o especialista e toda sua equipe devem estar realmente motivados e envolvidos na aplicação dos conceitos de Odontologia Preventiva em seus pacientes ou, pelo menos, dispostos a delegar esta tarefa a alguém capacitado para fazê-la. Existem métodos relativamente simples para se avaliar o potencial de colaboração do paciente com o tratamento proposto, antes mesmo de seu início, e de se manter este paciente em níveis aceitáveis de saúde bucal. A utilização de recursos áudiovisuais para motivar os pacientes, os reforços positivos, a realização de escovação supervisionada e da limpeza interdentária, orientação sobre higiene, manutenção de saúde bucal e dieta, utilização de diferentes tipos de acessórios ortodônticos e de agentes cimentantes, além do uso, quando necessário, de diversos métodos químicos, são importantes instrumentos a serem utilizados durante o tratamento ortodôntico. Tomando-se as devidas precauções, é possível alcançar uma oclusão funcional e esteticamente aceitável sem deixar que a doença tenha um papel coadjuvante no transcorrer e após o término do tratamento ortodôntico.

To compare the prevalence and severity of developmental defects of enamel (DDE) among subjects whose maxillary incisors developed during periods with different concentrations of fluoride in the public water supply. Standardized intra-oral photographs of random samples of 12-year-old children were collected in 1983, 1991 and 2001 (n = 1,990) in Hong Kong and assessed for DDE by a trained masked examiner. The fluoride concentrations in the public water supply at the times when the enamel on their maxillary incisors developed were 1.0, 0.7 and 0.5 ppm, respectively. The mouth prevalence of DDE for these children (based on the maxillary incisors) were 92.1, 55.8 and 35.2% in the years 1983, 1991 and 2001, respectively (p < 0.001). Most of these children were affected by diffuse opacities (89.3% in 1983, 48.5% in 1991 and 32.4% in 2001, p < 0.001). Marked differences in the mean number of teeth affected by DDE (p < 0.001) and in the maximum extent of DDE (p <or= 0.002) between 1983, 1991 and 2001 were also observed. A decrease in the prevalence and severity of DDE among the maxillary incisor teeth of the children corresponded to the reductions in the concentration of fluoride in the water during the time of enamel development.

Defluoridation of groundwater using brick powder as an adsorbent was studied in batch process. Different parameters of adsorption, viz. effect of pH, effect of dose and contact time were selected and optimized for the study. Feasible optimum conditions were applied to two groundwater samples of high fluoride concentration to study the suitability of adsorbent in field conditions. Comparison of adsorption by brick powder was made with adsorption by commercially available activated charcoal. In the optimum condition of pH and dose of adsorbents, the percentage defluoridation from synthetic sample, increased from 29.8 to 54.4% for brick powder and from 47.6 to 80.4% for commercially available activated charcoal with increasing the contact time starting from 15 to 120 min. Fluoride removal was found to be 48.73 and 56.4% from groundwater samples having 3.14 and 1.21 mg l −1 fluoride, respectively, under the optimized conditions. Presence of other ions in samples did not significantly affect the deflouridation efficiency of brick powder. The optimum pH range for brick powder was found to be 6.0-8.0 and adsorption equilibrium was found to be 60 min. These conditions make it very suitable for use in drinking water treatment. Deflouridation capacity of brick powder can be explained on the basis of the chemical interaction of fluoride with the metal oxides under suitable pH conditions. The adsorption process was found to follow first order rate mechanism as well as Freundlich isotherm.

Excessive fluoride concentrations have been reported in groundwaters of more than 20 developed and developing countries including India where 19 states are facing acute fluorosis problems. Various technologies are being used to remove fluoride from water but still the problem has not been rooted out. In this paper, a broad overview of the available technologies for fluoride removal and advantages and limitations of each one have been presented based on literature survey and the experiments conducted in the laboratory with several processes. It has been concluded that the selection of treatment process should be site specific as per local needs and prevailing conditions as each technology has some limitations and no one process can serve the purpose in diverse conditions.

C onformément à la loi du 9 août 2004 relative à la politique de santé publique, on distingue 2 niveaux dans l'approche des problèmes de santé bucco-dentaire : -la prévention individuelle : Elle correspond à différentes étapes appartenant à la fois au domaine des sciences comportementales et clinique pour tendre vers une prévention individuelle optimale ; -la prévention collective ou communautaire : Mise en place au niveau de la population, elle se fait principalement par l'usage de programmes. Cette approche correspond à des actions de santé bucco-dentaire qui visent à pallier les insuffi sances d'individus au sein d'une population. En matière de santé bucco-dentaire, ces approches ont considérablement évolué cette dernière décennie tant au niveau de la prévention primaire que de la prévention secondaire. Dans tous les cas, elle implique de multiples acteurs dans et en dehors du système de santé. Cette action préventive repose d'autre part sur une démarche beaucoup plus scientifi quement fondée notamment par une analyse plus étayée des problèmes de santé buccodentaire et de leurs déterminants tant au niveau de l'individu que des populations. Elle a permis de mettre en place des stratégies susceptibles d'être plus effi caces. Ces 2 types de prévention visent à supprimer les facteurs de risques dits modifi ables, c'est-à-dire associés au développement de la maladie en intervenant par le conseil ou par des actes thérapeutiques.

Resumo:A relação entre ambiente e saúde humana é uma temática que tem exigido o envolvimento de diferentes ramos científicos. Nessa perspectiva, estudos que avaliam a distribuição de elementos químicos no ambiente são de grande relevância, dado a correlação entre padrões anormais e efeitos à saúde. Com o intuito de identificar padrões de distribuição dos elementos químicos no Paraná, Licht (2001) realizou um levantamento geoquímico nos hidrossistemas superficiais e subterrâneos do estado. Dentre outros resultados, assinalou, no nordeste paranaense, um desvio dos padrões geoquímicos regionais – 0,16 mg/L, obtidos por meio do cálculo de background. Ademais, estudos epidemiológicos locais assinalaram a ocorrência de fluorose dentária, patologia associada ao consumo de flúor. Visando identificar com maior precisão a extensão espacial desta anomalia, e avançar na avaliação dos impactos à saúde local, foram coletadas 211 amostras de água superficial, in natura, em cinco mananciais de abastecimento público: Rio das Cinzas, Itararé, Tibagi, Paranapanema I e II. Análises químicas laboratoriais, destas amostras, foram realizadas no departamento de Química da Universidade Estadual de Londrina. Para a região, foram elaborados mapas hidrogeoquímicos, por meio método de interpolação Inverse Distance Weighted. Considerando que o Ministério da Saúde (1974) alerta para a necessidade de observância das variações climáticas locais, na presente pesquisa adotou-se como valor médio recomendado – VMR concentrações de flúor entre a faixa de 0,6 mg/L e 0,8 mg/L. O consumo de teores abaixo do VMR são considerados insuficientes na prevenção da cárie dental, por outro lado concentrações acima podem ocasionar a fluorose dentária. A análise dos mapas hidrogeoquímicos permitiu assinalar concentrações de flúor acima do VMR em três amostras. As quais estão situadas localmente em cursos d’água da bacia hidrográfica do Rio das Cinzas, respectivamente nos municípios de Santo Antônio da Platina, no qual obteve-se teores de 1,10 e 1,19 mg/L; e Ribeirão do Pinhal, de 1,15 mg/L. Ao contrário dos padrões hidrogeoquímicos assinalados por Licht (2001), as anomalias identificadas são pontuais, destoando da configuração local. No intento de buscar correlações entre a distribuição espacial dos teores de flúor e efeitos à saúde no contexto investigado, consultou-se, no banco de dados do DATASUS, dados de morbidade hospitalar, nos últimos cinco anos. Considerando a ausência de informações de fluorose dentária no referido banco de dados, realizou-se entrevistas informais com dentistas e odontopediatras nos municípios de Santo Antônio da Platina e Ribeirão do Pinhal. Os resultados obtidos não ensejaram definir quaisquer correlações positivas, mas possibilitaram a articulação de hipóteses. Contudo, é nítida a geração de um “cinturão” alinhavado pela sequência de picos das anomalias de flúor, que coincidem com as bordas de ocorrência das rochas vulcânicas da Formação Serra Geral, as quais por sua vez alojam o Aquífero Serra Geral.

Abstract: The relationship between the environment and human health it’s a theme that has required the involvement of different scientific branches. In that perspective, studies evaluating the environment distribution of chemical elements have great relevance, due to the correlation between abnormal standards and its effect to human health. Litch (2001) conducted a geochemical research on Parana state superficial and undergrounded hydro systems, seeking to identify distribution standards of the chemical elements. Among other results, he pointed out a deviation from the regional geochemistry standard of 0.16 mg/L, obtained by background calculations. Furthermore, local epidemiological studies pointed out the occurrence of dental fluorosis, a fluoride consumption associated pathology. Aiming to identify the space extension of this anomaly with greater accuracy and due to go further with the evaluation of its impact on the local health, 221 samples were collected from surface water, on five public supply fountains, on the rivers: Das Cinzas, Itararé, Tibagi, Paranapanema I e II. The chemical laboratory analyses of this samples, where conducted on the Chemistry department of the State University of Londrina. Hydro geochemistry maps were elaborated for the region, using the Arcgis 9.0 software. Aiming to establish the fluoride RAV of the investigated context, it was considered its effect on the mouth health. Considering the warning of Brazil Health Department (1974) to observe the variations on the local weather, the research considered as average recommended value – ARV fluoride concentrations of 0.6 mg/L to 0.8 mg/L. The ingestion of levels under the ARV are considered as insufficient to dental caries prevention, on the other hand concentrations above the ARV can lead to dental fluorosis. Those are located in watercourses on the hydrographic basin on the river das Cinzas, respectively on the cities of Santo Antônio da Platina, in which afforded 1.10 e 1.19 mg/L levels of fluoride; and Ribeirão do Pinhal with a 1.15 mg/L level. The identified anomalies are punctual, on the contrary of the hydro geochemistry standards pointed out by Licht (2001). Aiming to seek correlations between the space distribution of fluoride and health effects on the investigated context, it was consulted the morbidity data of the last five years on the DATASUS databank. Due to the absence on the databank of teeth fluorosis information, informal interviews were conducted on Santo Antônio da Platina e Ribeirão do Pinhal cities, with dentists. The obtained results didn’t allowed any positive correlation to be defined, but it allowed to articulate some hypothesis. However, it was clear the generation of a “belt” due to some peaks of fluoride anomalies, matching with the edge occurrence of the volcanic rocks of the Serra Geral Formation, witch on the other hand hosts the Serra Geral Aquifer.

In this study, adsorption potential of a new sorbent manganese-oxide-coated alumina (MOCA) was investigated for defluoridation of drinking water using batch and continuous mode experiments. The effects of different parameters such as pH, initial fluoride concentration and co-existing ions (usually present in groundwater sample) were studied to understand the adsorption behavior of the sorbent under various conditions. Optimum removal of fluoride ions occurred in a pH range of 4-7. Results of the present study indicate that fluoride adsorption rate and adsorption capacity of MOCA are far superior to that of activated alumina (AA), which was used as the base material for MOCA preparation. The MOCA can be effectively regenerated using 2.5% NaOH as eluent. The Langmuir equilibrium model was found to be suitable for describing the fluoride sorption on AA and MOCA. The maximum fluoride uptake capacity for MOCA and AA was found to be 2.85 and 1.08 mg g À1 , respectively. The kinetic results showed that the fluoride sorption to MOCA followed pseudo-second-order kinetics with a correlation coefficient greater than 0.98. The fluoride sorption capacity at breakthrough point for both the adsorbents was greatly influenced by bed depth. A bed depth service time (BDST) approach was adopted to describe the continuous flow system. The batch and column studies demonstrated the superiority of MOCA over AA in removing fluoride from the drinking water system.

Ethics in public health policy is given the least importance and rarely discussed. Resolving ethical issues in public health is often an arduous task as these are complicated and require careful handling. Using four case studies, we discuss issues pertaining to pertussis and brain damage, water fluoridation and dental caries, infection with the human immunodeficiency virus and the right to marriage, and the debate surrounding universal salt iodization. The core issue in all these examples pertains to the relevance of ethics in public health policy.

This paper reviews fluoride varnish (FV) literature to develop a community-based protocol for people with special needs or those w h o are caries susceptible. Safety, personnel and cost issues are discussed and existing NIH, CDC and WHO recommendations are presented. FV studies are assessed with respect to type of FV to use and frequency of application. FV is compared with studies using other caries preventive agents: 0.2% NaF mouthrinse, acidulated phosphate fluoride (APF) gel, dental sealants, water fluoridation and chlorhexidine. Because there are few FV studies among special need populations, conclusions are based on available literature and public health principles. If personnel are available, FV use is preferred to APF gel and may be preferable to 0.2% NaF mouthrinse. FV is more effective in optimally fluoridated communities. If many occlusal surfaces are at risk, sealants should be applied. Additional combinations and frequencies of preventive agents should be tested, especially for people with special needs and high caries risk adults.

The objectives of this study were to assess the association between children and parents' knowledge of caries preventive practices, the parents' caries preventive oral health behaviours and children's caries preventive oral health behaviour and caries experience. Three hundred and twenty four participants aged 8-12 years, 308 fathers and 318 mothers were recruited through a household survey conducted in Suburban Nigeria. A questionnaire was administered to generate information on fathers, mothers and children's knowledge of caries prevention measures and their oral health behaviour. Clinical examination was conducted on the children to determine their dmft/DMFT. Analysis was conducted to determine the predictors of the children's good oral health behaviour. The mothers' oral health behaviours were significant predictors of the children's oral health behaviours. Children who had good knowledge of caries prevention measures had significant increased odds of...

Investigations were carried out on the defluoridation of fluoride-spiked ground water in domestic defluoridation units (DDU) with activated alumina (AA). Specific safe water yield (SSY) was determined as a function of AA amount and adsorbent depth. Reuse potential of exhausted AA was ...

Background: Although the predominant beneficial effect of fluoride occurs locally in the mouth, the adverse effect, dental fluorosis, occurs by the systemic route. The caries attack rate in industrializedcountries, including the Unitedstates and Canada, has decreased dramatically over the past 40 years. However, the prevalence of dental fluorosis in the United States has increased during the last 30 years both in communities with fluoridated water and in communities with nonfluoridated water. Dental fluorosis is closely associated with fluoride intake during the period of tooth development. Methods: We reviewed the major changes in infant feeding practices that have occurred since 1930 and the changes in fluoride intakes by infants and young children associated with changes in feeding practices. Results and Conclusions: Based on this review, we conclude that fluoride intakes of infants and children have shown a rather steady increase since 1930, are likely to continue to increase, and will be associated with further increase in the prevalence of enamel fluorosis unless intervention measures are instituted. Recommendations: We believe the most important measures that should be undertaken are ( I ) use, when feasible, of water low in fluoride for dilution of infant formulas; (2) adult supervision of toothbrushing by children younger than 5 years of age; and (3) changes in recommendations for administration of fluoride supplements so that such supplements are not given to infants and more stringent criteria are applied for administration to children.

The Republic of Ireland (RoI) is the only European Country with a mandatory national legislation requiring artificial fluoridation of drinking water and has the highest per capita consumption of black tea in the world. Tea is a hyperaccumulator of fluoride and chronic fluoride intake is associated with multiple negative health outcomes. In this study, fifty four brands of the commercially available black tea bag products were purchased and the fluoride level in tea infusions tested by an ion-selective electrode method. The fluoride content in all brands tested ranged from 1.6 to 6.1 mg/L, with a mean value of 3.3 mg/L. According to our risk assessment it is evident that the general population in the RoI is at a high risk of chronic fluoride exposure and associated adverse health effects based on established reference values. We conclude that the culture of habitual tea drinking in the RoI indicates that the total cumulative dietary fluoride intake in the general population could rea...

Abstract– The purpose of this comparative study of caries and dental fluorosis experience in Chilean children was to estimate the optimal range of fluoride concentration in tap water under conditions currently prevailing in Chile. The sample included 2431 schoolchildren 7, 12 and 15 years old, life-long residents of five communities with fluoride concentrations in their tap water in the range 0.07–1.1 mg/L. The study population received an oral clinical examination including caries experience and an enamel fluorosis evaluation of the permanent dentition (Dean's scoring system). For 15-year-old children, the DMFT index changed from 5.06 to 2.60, and for 12-year-olds it changed from 3.10 to 1.36 when fluoride water concentration changed from 0.07 to 1.10 mg/L. For 7-year-old children the dmft index correspondingly changed from 3.67 to 1.59. The relationship between DMFT for 12-year-olds and water fluoride concentration was best fitted by a logarithmic function (r2=0.98). The Community Fluorosis Index (CFI) was used to assess enamel fluorosis in the study population, and it showed a linear relationship (r2=0.983) with increasing fluoride concentration of water for the 12-year-old group. Results obtained suggest that under current Chilean conditions, the optimal range of fluoride concentration in potable water should lie in the 0.5–0.6 mg/L range.

In order to evaluate the uptake of fluoride (F) into tooth structures following water fluoridation in Ho Chi Minh City, F concentrations were measured from the enamel surface through the enamel–dentine junction (EDJ) to dentine close to the pulp in premolars. Calcification ...

Background: Knowledge of fluoride levels in drinking water is of importance in dental public health, yet this information is lacking, at national level, in Nigeria. Objective: To map out fluoride levels in drinking water sources in Nigeria. Materials and Methods: Fluoride levels in drinking water sources from 109 randomly selected Local Government Areas (LGAs) in the 6 Nigerian geopolitical zones were determined. From the results, maps showing LGAs with fluoride concentrations exceeding 0.3 ppm, were drawn. ANOVA and t-test were used to determine the significance of the differences between the fluoride levels in the drinking water sources. Results: Fluoride levels were low in most parts of the country, being 0.3 ppm or less in 62% of the LGAs. Fluoride concentrations were generally higher in North Central geopolitical zone, than the other zones in the country (p<0.05). In a few drinking water sources, fluoride concentrations exceeded 1.5 ppm, but was as high as 6.7 ppm in one well. Only 9% of the water sources were from waterworks. Conclusion: Most of the water sources in Nigeria contained low fluoride levels; but few had excessive concentrations and need to be partially defluoridated, or else alternative sources of drinking water provided for the community.

This study&#39;s purpose was to investigate the prevalence of dental fluorosis in children, whose parents had participated in an oral health program when the children were between zero and three years old, residing in a city with fluoridated water. Group 1 consisted of 128 eight- to 12-year-olds whose parents had visited a program on at least five occasions when the children were zero to three years old and received education about tooth-brushing and the proper use of fluoridated toothpaste in this young age group. The prevalence of dental fluorosis in the permanent maxillary incisors, using the Thylstrup-Fejerskov index, in Group 1 was compared to that of an age-matched group of children (n=128) whose parents had not participated in the program (Group 2). Group 1 mothers reported higher education levels (P&lt;.05). Group 1 children had a significantly lower prevalence (∼42 percent) and severity (P&lt;.05) of dental fluorosis than those in the control group (∼61 percent). Children w...

Previous data relating to the cost of fluoridation often do not include annualized costs or costs for labor and maintenance. The purpose of this study was to estimate accurately current costs for initiating and maintaining fluoridation and to develop a methodology that can be used to provide the cost basis for further cost-effectiveness studies. The data were collected from 44 Florida communities that had initiated community water fluoridation between 198 1 and 1989. Equipment, installation, and engineering costs were derived from copies of actual invoices for equipment and services and then adjusted to 1988 dollars. The chemical costs were calculated from operational reports listing flow rate andpounds used. The cost was then adjusted according to whether the hydrofluosilicic acid was supplied as 15-gallon carboys, 55-gallon drums, in bulk, or as sodium silicofluoride or sodium fluoride. The initial cost was annualized at 2 percent and 4 percent over 15 years. Calculated operational costs included chemical costs, labor costs, and maintenance and repair costs. The operational costs were then added to the annualizeddepreciation costs and opportunity costs for the initial investment, to produce an estimated cost per person served. The total mean cost per person for all installations was $1.14 per year at 2 percent and $1.25 per year at 4 percent. The mean cost at 4 percent for communities of fewer than 10,000 was $2.12; for communities between 70,000 and 50,000 it was $0.68; and for communities over 50,000 it was $0.3 1. The total mean cost per person across all installations was $0.41 at 2 percent and 0.45 at 4 percent. The average yearly cost was related to the size of the community, the Send correspondence and reprint requests to Dr. Ringelberg. Manuscript received: 7/30/90; returned to authors for revision: 12/4/90; accepted for publication: 5/7/91. number of injection points, and the method of chemical purchase and delivery.

One argument made in favour of drinking water fluoridation is that it is equitable in its impact on oral health. We examined the association between exposure to fluoridation and oral health inequities among Canadian children.PARTICIPANTS, SETTING AND INTERVENTION: We analyzed data from 1,017 children aged 6-11 from Cycle 1 of the Canadian Health Measures Survey, a cross-sectional, nationally representative survey that included a clinic oral health examination and a household interview. The outcome measure was a count of the number of decayed, missing (because of caries or periodontal disease) or filled teeth, either deciduous or permanent (dmftDMFT). Data were analyzed using linear (ordinary least squares) and multinomial logistic regression; we also computed the concentration index for education-related inequity in oral health. Water fluoridation status (the intervention) was assigned on the basis of the site location of data collection. Fluoridation was associated with better oral...

Serum and urine fluoride levels were determined in 250 healthy subjects (15-90 years, 122 men and 128 women) residing in Catalonia, Spain, and in 150 patients (20-81 years, 84 men and 66 women) with chronic renal failure undergoing regular dialysis treatment, living in the same geographical area, to determine normal range and to investigate its relationships to age, sex and renal function. Serum and urine fluoride were determined by a fluoride ion specific electrode system. Mean (+/- S.D.) serum fluoride concentration was 17.5 +/- 9.5 micrograms/l, ranging from 1 to 47 micrograms/l, in the control group and 58 +/- 31 micrograms/l, ranging from 28 to 185 micrograms/l, in renal patients. Urine fluoride concentration in the healthy group was 671 +/- 373 micrograms/24 h, ranging from 156 to 1900 micrograms/24 h. Fluoride status in the patient group was significantly greater than the control group. There was significant correlation between serum fluoride and age. No sex related difference was found.

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of tooth wear in adults in Ireland and its relationship with water fluoridation. The National Survey of Adult Oral Health was conducted in 2000/2001. Tooth wear was determined using a partial mouth examination assessing the upper and lower anterior teeth. A total of 2456 subjects were examined. In this survey, increasing levels and severity of tooth wear were associated with ageing. Men were more affected by tooth wear and were more likely to be affected by severe tooth wear than women. It was found that age, and gender were significant predictors of tooth wear (P &lt; 0.01). Overall, there was no significant relationship between fluoridation and tooth wear in this study.

Evidence of water fluoridation's effects on plants, ani mals, and humans is considered based on reviews by sci entific groups and individual communities, including Fort Collins, CO, Port Angeles, WA, and Tacoma-Pierce County, WA. The potential for corrosion of pipes and the use of fluoridation chemicals, particularly fluoro silicic acid, are considered, as is the debate about whether fluoridation increases lead in water, with the conclusion that there is no such increase. The argu ments of anti-fluoridationists and fluoridation propo nents are examined with respect to the politics of the issue.

This issue of Cancer Causes and Controls includes a paper with results from an analysis of a subset of participants in our ongoing study of fluoride and osteosarcoma. The paper, ''Age-specific fluoride exposure in drinking water and osteosarcoma'', presents a partial view of this ongoing study. We would like to advise the readers to be especially cautious when interpreting the findings of this paper for several reasons. The authors themselves have already raised a flag of caution in their final paragraph with the note that they are aware of additional findings from other incident cases that appear not to replicate the findings from the cases presented in their paper.

Defluoridation of groundwater using brick powder as an adsorbent was studied in batch process. Different parameters of adsorption, viz. effect of pH, effect of dose and contact time were selected and optimized for the study. Feasible optimum conditions were applied to two groundwater samples of high fluoride concentration to study the suitability of adsorbent in field conditions. Comparison of adsorption by brick powder was made with adsorption by commercially available activated charcoal. In the optimum condition of pH and dose of adsorbents, the percentage defluoridation from synthetic sample, increased from 29.8 to 54.4% for brick powder and from 47.6 to 80.4% for commercially available activated charcoal with increasing the contact time starting from 15 to 120 min. Fluoride removal was found to be 48.73 and 56.4% from groundwater samples having 3.14 and 1.21 mg l−1 fluoride, respectively, under the optimized conditions. Presence of other ions in samples did not significantly affect the deflouridation efficiency of brick powder. The optimum pH range for brick powder was found to be 6.0–8.0 and adsorption equilibrium was found to be 60 min. These conditions make it very suitable for use in drinking water treatment. Deflouridation capacity of brick powder can be explained on the basis of the chemical interaction of fluoride with the metal oxides under suitable pH conditions. The adsorption process was found to follow first order rate mechanism as well as Freundlich isotherm.

This was to determine the prevalence of primary tooth fluorosis in the dentitions of 5-year-old schoolchildren. A subsidiary aim was to investigate whether an association existed between the presence of primary tooth fluorosis, fluoridation status, infant feeding practices or the oral hygiene practices of the child. A cross-sectional and stratified by fluoridation status study. Fluorosis was recorded using a modification of the Tooth Surface Index of Fluorosis (TSIF). Demographic data, information on infant feeding practices and oral hygiene practices were collected via a parental questionnaire. Stepwise logistic regression analysis. Fluorosis prevalence in the fluoridated group (n=208) was 32%; 29.3% (n=61) had a modified TSIF score of 1; 2.4% (n=5) had a modified TSIF score of 2; and 1% (n=1) had a modified TSIF score of 5. In the non-fluoridated group (n=86) one child had a modified TSIF score of 1. Primary tooth prevalence of fluorosis in the entire sample (n=294) was 23%. Facto...

Health care reform often involves a search for interventions that have the greatest value, both in terms of outcome and cost. Preventive dental care for children is simple, low risk, affordable, and has benefits that exceed its cost, making it a sensible type of care for all children to receive. However, there is a literal epidemic of preventable tooth decay amongst children in this country, an epidemic that has proven resistant to many attempts to ameliorate it. This epidemic leads to pain, poor school performance, poor nutrition, infection, and increased risk of heart problems in adulthood. It also, at times, leads to children’s deaths. This Article argues that this pervasive, stubborn problem of preventable dental decay is structural, and requires legal reforms to create a system whereby all, or at least most, children receive the necessary preventive care in a timely manner. This epidemic has highest rates of prevalence in children who have other significant stressors in their l...

Widespread use of fluoride has been a major factor in the decline in the prevalence and severity of dental caries (i.e., tooth decay) in the United States and other economically developed countries. When used appropriately, fluoride is both safe and effective in preventing and controlling dental caries. All U.S. residents are likely exposed to some degree to fluoride, which is available from multiple sources. Both health-care professionals and the public have sought guidance on selecting the best way to provide and receive fluoride. During the late 1990s, CDC convened a work group to develop recommendations for using fluoride to prevent and control dental caries in the United States. This report includes these recommendations, as well as a) critical analysis of the scientific evidence regarding the efficacy and effectiveness of fluoride modalities in preventing and controlling dental caries, b) ordinal grading of the quality of the evidence, and c) assessment of the strength of each...

Objectives: To determine the effect of water fiuoride concentration on the fiuoride profile across the entire thickness ofthe cementum and root dentine of human permanent anterior teeth in adults. Subjects: Twenty-eight human permanent anterior teeth from individuals aged from 30 to over 60 years were studied. Setting: Teeth were obtained from a natural high-fiuoride area (West Hartlepool, UK; 1.0-1.3 ppm F in drinking water, WHP) and the other from a non-fiuoridated naturally low fiuoride area (Leeds, UK; 0.1 ppm F in drinking water, LDS). Design: Cementum and root dentine were sampled using an abrasive micro-sampling technique from the cementum surface to the pulpal surface of root dentine. Results: Fluoride concentration was higher in tooth roots (the cementum and dentine) taken from the naturally fiuoridated area (WHP) than from the nonfiuoridated area (LDS). Age and average fiuoride concentration showed a positive correlation in WHP dentine, middle region of the root (r = 0.78, P < 0.001) and in the apical region of the root (r = 0.6\,P < 0.05). WHP cementum had the strongest fiuoride concentration correlation with age in the cervical region of the root (r = 0.67, P < 0.01). An analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed that the area (water fiuoride content), age and number of years lived in the area combined with total age were significant. Conclusions: The fiuoride content of cementum and root dentine in adult residents is related to fiuoride content in drinking water.

In the present study, the metal-binding property of chitosan is used to incorporate titanium metal and applied as an adsorbent for fluoride adsorption. Titanium macrospheres (TM) were synthesized by a precipitation method and characterized by FTIR, SEM, and XRD. The Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption models were applied to describe the adsorption equilibrium and the adsorption capacities were calculated. Thermodynamic parameters of standard free energy change ( G • ), standard enthalpy change ( H • ), and standard entropy change ( S • ) were also calculated. The effects of various physicochemical parameters such as pH, initial concentration, adsorbent dose, and the presence of coexisting anions were studied. The fluoride uptake was maximum at neutral pH 7 and decreased in acidic and alkaline pH. The presence of coexisting anions has a negative effect on fluoride adsorption. TM was found to have very fast kinetics in the first 30 min and then the rate slowed down as equilibrium was approached. A comparison of fluoride removal in simulated and field water shows a high adsorption capacity in simulated water.