South Australian kindergarten children: fluoride tablet supplements and dental caries.

A study of 4,278 country and city kindergarten children living in South Australia showed 63 and 59 per cent received fluoride tablets at some time and 17 per cent received daily doses. Lower dmf scores were found in those taking fluoride tablets but of decreasing value in the older children. Where no fluoride was taken zero dmf scores were 41-69 per cent. Protection from fluoride was not found where fluoride was taken for less than two years. Self administration appears to be an unsatisfactory method for fluoride therapy.