NSW Fluoridation Study

Following up a posting from 7 October, the latest edition of the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health contains the report on the ARCPOH study of fluoridation in NSW.

The study compares caries within Area Health Services (AHSs) rather than comparing caries in disparate geographical locations where other factors – such as diet, poverty, age profile, access to care, etc – may confound the results.

The abstract for this paper concludes: "Water fluoridation was found to be related to significantly reduced caries experience in the majority of AHSs where comparisons could be made, and to benefit all socio-economic strata of the community ... Water fluoridation should be extended to those areas of NSW that are yet to benefit from this successful caries preventive public health initiative. "

The contents and abstracts of the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health can be viewed here.