Nirosha Ranasinghe1, Estie Kruger1, Marc Tennant1. 1. International Research Collaborative - Oral Health And Equity, Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Human Biology, School of Human Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To investigate the distribution of groundwater fluoride levels in Sri Lanka in relation to its population distribution to determine the population at risk for dental caries or dental fluorosis. METHODS: The study used the most upgraded spatial distribution map of groundwater fluoride levels in Sri Lanka, and it was overlaid with a census of population data of the country. RESULTS: The results indicated that 12% of children aged <12 years were at risk for dental fluorosis, while 81.4% of those who lived in low-fluoride zones were vulnerable for development of dental decay. Overall, 82.4% of the country's population lived in low-fluoride zones and 11.2% were at risk of potential health hazards posed by ingestion of excessive fluoride. CONCLUSION: The spatial approach provides a useful decision-support tool for developing an oral health strategy of safe fluoride use based on predicted oral health risks in communities.
OBJECTIVES: To investigate the distribution of groundwater fluoride levels in Sri Lanka in relation to its population distribution to determine the population at risk for dental caries or dental fluorosis. METHODS: The study used the most upgraded spatial distribution map of groundwater fluoride levels in Sri Lanka, and it was overlaid with a census of population data of the country. RESULTS: The results indicated that 12% of children aged <12 years were at risk for dental fluorosis, while 81.4% of those who lived in low-fluoride zones were vulnerable for development of dental decay. Overall, 82.4% of the country's population lived in low-fluoride zones and 11.2% were at risk of potential health hazards posed by ingestion of excessive fluoride. CONCLUSION: The spatial approach provides a useful decision-support tool for developing an oral health strategy of safe fluoride use based on predicted oral health risks in communities.
Authors: May Cm Wong; Anne-Marie Glenny; Boyd Wk Tsang; Edward Cm Lo; Helen V Worthington; Valeria Cc Marinho Journal: Cochrane Database Syst Rev Date: 2010-01-20
Authors: Wim van der Hoek; Lilani Ekanayake; Lorraine Rajasooriyar; Ravi Karunaratne Journal: Int J Environ Health Res Date: 2003-09 Impact factor: 3.411