The results of 6 1/2 years of artificial fluoridation of drinking water in The Netherlands : The tiel—Culemborg experiment

Abstract

In order to assess the effect of water fluoridation on dental caries under Dutch living conditions (food, water consumption, etc.) the drinking water of Tiel was fluoridated since 1953 at 1·1 mg/l. The nearby city of Culemborg served as control (±0·1 mg natural fluoride per litre of water). The principal study groups contained each second year the 11–15 year old children from both cities. Approximal caries was estimated from radiographs only, caries of occlusal and free smooth surfaces in a clinical examination. Both methods were standardized as far as possible. The results after 6 1/2 years of water fluoridation show an important caries inhibiting effect on caries of approximal and free smooth surfaces. The inhibition of occlusal cavities is (at the present time) far less marked. The favourable effect of this water fluoridation is in many respects similar to the results of American studies after the same interval.