ABSTRACT
Background and Aims: People in Lebanon turned to bottle water consumption because of its poor public water quality. In general, fluoride is known as dental caries preventive. A study in 1986 and two other national surveys in 1994 and 2004 showed that the concentration of fluoride in public Lebanese water was insignificant for the prevention of dental caries (less than 0.3 mg/L). The aim of the study was to measure the fluoride concentration in the highest selling and known commercial brands for bottled water in Lebanon, as well as to assess their effectiveness regarding prevention of dental caries. Result: Fluoride has a notable therapeutic effect but in small doses that fluoride can be found in drinking water. Analysis using an absorptiometry of 625nm and another technique using an Orion electrode of 9609 BN have shown the low content of fluoride in the Lebanese waters (less than 0.3 mg/l). Strategies have recently been evolved based on fluroide supplementation (if the results turn negative) to reduce the index of caries in LEBANON.
ABSTRACT
The purpose of this study is to assess caries and enamel fluorosis in a sample of 1433 children aged 6–8, 12, and 15 years from 48 schools in 6 regions of Lebanon, selected by probability proportional to size. Methods: Children were examined according to the World Health Organization criteria. Results: Our results showed a mean of decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMFT) of 0.6 (dft of 5.15), 3.42, and 5.44 corresponding respectively to the groups of 6–8-, 12-, and 15-year-old children. In the same groups, the percentage of DMFT = 0 for the 6–8-year-old category was 74%, the 12-year-old category was 20.9%, and for the 15-year-old category was 9.7%; Ten (2.1%) 12 year olds had moderate and one (0.2%) severe scores; these children had been born in other countries. Conclusions: Survey results confirm the need to implement nationwide dental caries prevention measures. Since water fluoridation is not feasible, salt fluoridation would be the alternative.