CARIES EXPERIENCE OF 15-YEAR-OLD CHILDREN IN THE NETHERLANDS AFTER DISCONTINUATION OF WATER FLUORIDATION

In 1973 the fluoridation of drinking water in the Dutch town of Tiel w as discontinued. In order to monitor the effect of this measure, the c aries experience in 15-year-old children was investigated annually fro m 1979 to 1988, both in Tiel and in Culemborg. In the latter town the drinking water had never been fluoridated. The caries data of 15-year- old children examined between 1968 and 1969 in Tiel (children having u sed fluoridated water from birth) and Culemborg were used as historica l controls. In Tiel the mean number of DMFS increased between 1968/69 and 1979/80 from 10. 8 to 12.7 (+18%) and decreased to 9.6 (-26%) in t he following years; in 1987/88 the mean DMFS was 11% lower than in 196 8/69. In Culemborg the mean DMFS score decreased between 1968/69 and 1 987/88 from 27.7 to 7.7 (-72%). In 1968/69 the mean DMFS score in Tiel was 61% lower and in 1987/88 17% higher than in Culemborg. The questi on as to whether water fluoridation would have had an additional effec t if it had been continued (presuming the application of existing prev entive measures) cannot be answered, as there are no remaining communi ties with fluoridated water in The Netherlands.