September 2015

Volume 32, Issue 3

Editoral

Authors: Professor Michael A Lennon OBE
doi: 10.1922/CDH_Lennon02

Abstract

Community Dental Health (2015) 32, 130–131 Editorial The Cochrane review of water fluoridation; a commentary Professor Michael A Lennon OBE The recently published systematic review of water fluoridation by the Cochrane Oral Health Group (Iheozor-Ejiofor et al., 2015) concludes that “the initiation of water fluoridation results in a 35% reduction in dmft and a 26% reduction in DMFT compared to the median control group value” and that “there were also increases in the percentage of caries-free children of 15% in deciduous dentition and 14% in permanent dentition” - oral health improvements which led the COHG authors to the view that “fluoridation is effective at reducing caries levels in children”. Looking at broadly the same literature, the York Report (McDonagh et al., 2000) made similar findings and concluded that the evidence was of “moderate quality” and that “the best available evidence suggests that fluoridation of drinking water supplies does reduce caries prevalence”. The Australian National Health and Medical Research Council (2007) concluded that “the existing body of evidence strongly suggests that water fluoridation is beneficial at reducing dental caries”. In two American reviews the authors concluded that there is “strong evidence that community water fluoridation is effective in reducing the cumulative experience of dental caries within communities” (Truman et al., 2002) and that there was “strong evidence of effectiveness in reducing dental caries across populations” (Community Preventive Services Task Force, 2013). All five systematic reviews between 2000 and 2015 reached the conclusion that fluoridation reduces dental caries in children. Three of them called the evidence ‘strong’. McDonagh et al. called it ‘moderate’.

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Other articles in this issue

Article Pages Access
Editoral 130-131 Download
Relationship between family characteristics and children’s regular toothbrushing with fluoride toothpaste 132-136 Download
Effect of family caregiver oral care training on stroke survivor oral and respiratory health in Taiwan: a randomised controlled trial 137-142 Download
Exploring the association between oral health literacy and alexithymia 143-147 Download
Association of oral health literacy with oral health behaviour and oral health status in Belarus 148-152 Download
Association between childhood socioeconomic position and periodontitis in Korean adults 153-157 Download
Clustering of risk indicators for periodontal disease: A populationbased study 158-162 Download
Dental caries in Iraqi 12-year-olds and background fluoride exposure 163-169 Download
Fluoride content and labelling of toothpastes marketed in India 170-173 Download
Attitudes and practices regarding preventive dentistry among Libyan dentists 174-179 Download
Comparing UK, USA and Australian values for EQ-5D as a health utility measure of oral health 180-184 Download
Socioeconomic inequalities in dental caries among 5-year-olds in four Chinese provinces 185-189 Download
Dental survey of the Falkland Islands’ child population 190-192 Download

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