March 2006

Background An all Ireland/North South survey of Oral Health was carried out in 2001/2002. Aims: To compare levels of dental caries and enamel fluorosis among children and adolescents in the fluoridated Republic of Ireland (RoI) with those in the non fluoridated North of Ireland (NI). Methodology: Cross sectional oral health survey of a representative, random, stratified sample of 5-, 8-, 12- and 15-year-olds in RoI and in NI (N=19,950). WHO examination criteria with the addition of visible, non cavitated dentine caries were used for recording caries. Fluorosis was measured using Dean’s ndex. Results: In the RoI, the mean d3cmft / D3cMFT for 5-, 8-, 12-, and 15-year-olds with full domestic water fluoridation (n=9,975), was 1.0, 0.3, 1.1 and 2.1 respectively. The corresponding means in non fluoridated NI (n=1,475) were 1.8, 0.3, 1.5 and 3.6 respectively. (p<0.0001, NS, p<0.0005 and p<0.0001 ). The prevalence of enamel fluorosis has increased in RoI since 1984, 23% and 36% of 8- and 15-year olds respectively in fluoridated areas had Dean’s Index scores at the questionable or greater level in 2002 compared with 6% and 5% respectively in 1984. Conclusions: In 2002 apart from 8-year-olds, caries levels were lower amongst children resident in fluoridated communities in RoI than amongst corresponding age groups in non-fluoridated NI. Caries has declined in fluoridated and non fluoridated groups in both jurisdictions since the early 1960s. In RoI fluorosis levels were higher amongst lifetime residents of fluoridated communities and have increased since 1984. Key Words: Caries, epidemiology, fluoridation, fluorosis, national survey