[Ten years of external control over water fluoridation in Chapecó, Santa Catarina State, Brazil].

This study aimed to analyze fluoride concentration in the public water supply in Chapecó, Santa Catarina State, Brazil, from 1995 to 2005 and to assess the effectiveness of a fluoridation quality intervention in 2003. A total of 989 water samples were analyzed. Fluoride concentrations were classified according to three different criteria used in Brazil. The city conducted a political and legal intervention in 2003. The Prais-Winsten procedure was used to evaluate the fluoride concentrations over time. In the ten years, the water fluoridation system showed 46%, 32%, and 43% of adequate samples, depending on the criterion. Prior to the municipal intervention, the proportion of adequate samples was 40%, 26%, and 36%, increasing to 63%, 49%, and 61% after the intervention, according to the three criteria. Fluoride concentration improved after the municipal intervention. On-going surveillance is recommended, including water fluoridation, dental caries, and dental fluorosis.