Background: Both dental caries and periodontal disease, together referred to as odontogenic infections, are prevalent and may result in serious complications. Though fluoride has been proved to be effective in preventing caries, water fluoridation has become controversial and supposed to be discontinued in Israel during the next few months.
Aims: to define the influence of public water fluoride level on rate of admissions for odontogenic infections and length of hospitalization.
Methods: Rates of admissions due to odontogenic infections in children < 18 yr of age and length of hospitalization were compared in a group of 44 cities in Israel, where fluoride levels (naturally or artificially) are >0.7 mg/L and <0.5 mg/L. Similar comparison was made after dividing the cities to 5 socioeconomic ranks. We also created pairs of cities that have a high level of fluoride in their drinking water with cities which have a low level of the mineral. The pairs shared a similar socioeconomic status and are located in the same areas of Israel respectively and rates of admissions due to odontogenic infections were compared.
Results: Overall, in the high fluoride cities, hospitalization rates were significantly lower than in the low fluoride locations (
1.4 vs
2.7 per 100,000 children respectively, RR=1.99,
p<0.0001). This effect was significant to the cities in the lower 3 (out of five) socioeconomic ranks.
Conclusions: Water fluoridation is associated with decreased rates of hospitalization for odontogenic infections. This effect is especially emphasized for lower socioeconomic populations.
