DIETARY FLUORIDE AND CARIES PREVALENCE AM ONG CHILDREN COMING FROM CITIES WITH DIFFERENT FLUORIDE CONCENTRATIONS IN DRINKING-WATER

The consumption of dietary fluoride and its relationship with dental c aries prevalence was determinated in 780 preschool children and 802 sc hool children from Iquique, Arica, Santiago and San Antonio, where dri nking water has different fluoride concentration. Dietary fluoride was determinated from dietary records and fluoride content of foods. The fluoride consumption from drinking water was calculated by Galagan and Vermillion formula. The total fluoride consumption was obtained. The dental caries prevalence was established by the evaluation of dental c aries index in deciduous (dmft) and permanent (DMFT) dentition. Signif icantly lower DMFT values were founded in cities with lower fluoride l evels in drinking water The exception was San Antonio, where high diet ary fluoride explained the lower DMFT values relative to Santiago. Our results suggest that not only fluoride in water but also the consumpt ion of fluoride rich foods has a significant impact on the prevalence of caries.