Prevalence of dental caries and dental fluorosis in areas with negligible, optimal, and above-optimal fluoride concentrations in drinking water.

The prevalence of dental caries and dental fluorosis was assessed in 1,123 children aged 8 to 16 years who were lifelong residents of areas with negligible, optimal, and above-optimal concentrations of natural fluoride in drinking water. Caries prevalence in the optimal fluoride area was 38.1% lower than it was in the negligible fluoride area, and, in the higher-than-optimal fluoride areas, even greater caries protection was evident. Caries protection was compromised in children with severe fluorosis. Findings do not support the contention that definite increases in the prevalence of fluorosis are occurring in communities with negligible and optimal water-fluoride concentrations because of increased total fluoride consumption from various sources.