The impact of stopping or reducing the level of fluoride in public water supplies on dental fluorosis: a systematic review
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Nor Azlida Mohd Nor
,
Barbara L. Chadwick
Abstract
Objective
The increased availability of fluoride and concern over the impact of fluorosis, have led to guidance suggesting a decrease or cease in the optimal concentration of fluoride in water fluoridation schemes. To date there have been no systematic reviews looking at both impact of fluoride reduction and total cessation. This review aimed to examine the impact of stopping or reducing the level of fluoride in public water supplies on dental fluorosis.
Content
Multiple databases were searched (MEDLINE, EMBASE, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and the Web of Science). Two reviewers independently screened sources, extracted data and assessed study quality. Results were synthesised qualitatively and quantitatively. The main outcome measure was the prevalence of dental fluorosis.
Summary
Six studies of cross-sectional design were included. Two studies were scored as evidence level B (moderate) and the remaining four publications were evidence level C (poor). Meta-analysis indicated fluorosis prevalence was significantly decreased following either a reduction in the concentration of fluoride or cessation of adding fluoride to the water supply (OR:6.68; 95% CI:2.48 to 18.00).
Outlook
The evidence suggests a significant decrease in the prevalence of fluorosis post cessation or reduction in the concentration of fluoride added to the water supply. However, this work demonstrates that when studies are subject to current expectations of methodological and experimental rigour, there is limited evidence with low methodological quality to determine the effect of stopping or reducing the concentration of fluoride in the water supply on dental fluorosis.
Acknowledgement
Assistance from the subject specialist librarians at Cardiff University is acknowledged gratefully.
Research funding: This work was funded by a scholarship from the Ministry of Education, Malaysia to support PhD studies undertaken by NAMN.
Competing interests: Authors state no conflicts of interest to declare.
Informed consent: Informed consent is not applicable.
Ethical approval: Ethical approval to conduct this study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee, School of Dentistry, Cardiff University (DSREC, 14/17a).
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Supplementary material
The online version of this article offers supplementary material (https://doi.org/10.1515/reveh-2019-0059).
© 2020 Nor Azlida Mohd Nor et al., published by De Gruyter, Berlin/Boston
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Artikel in diesem Heft
- Frontmatter
- Letter to the Editor
- Virus, bats and drugs
- Mini Reviews
- Exposure to persistent organic pollutants during tooth formation: molecular mechanisms and clinical findings
- Recent progress on removal of indoor air pollutants by catalytic oxidation
- Bisphenol-A and polycystic ovary syndrome: a review of the literature
- Testing the low dose mixtures hypothesis from the Halifax project
- Autism spectrum disorder in the United Arab Emirates: potential environmental links
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- Original Article
- Continuous exposure to ambient air pollution and chronic diseases: prevalence, burden, and economic costs
- Review Articles
- A review on fly ash from coal-fired power plants: chemical composition, regulations, and health evidence
- The impact of stopping or reducing the level of fluoride in public water supplies on dental fluorosis: a systematic review
- Exposure assessment of indoor particulate matter during pregnancy: a narrative review of the literature
- Environmental and ecological factors of stomach cancer incidence and mortality: a systematic review study on ecological studies
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