Community Water Fluoridation Programs: A Health Technology Assessment — Review of Dental Caries and Other Health Outcomes
Service Line: CADTH Technology Review
Issue: 12
Publication Date: February 2019
Report Length: 478 Pages
Introduction
Dental caries is a common public health problem in Canada,1 and it affects about 57% of children aged six to 11 years and 59% of adolescents aged 12 to 18 years.2
It has been estimated that the prevalence of coronal caries and the prevalence of root caries for Canadian adults aged 19 years and older is 96% and 20.3%, respectively.2
Dental caries can result in pain, infection, premature tooth loss, and misaligned teeth.3 Untreated dental caries in children are associated with poor overall growth, iron deficiency, behaviour problems, low self-esteem, and a reduction in school attendance and performance.4-9 In pregnant women, periodontal diseases are risk factors for preterm low birth weight.10,11 By adulthood, about 96% of Canadians have experienced dental caries.2 In 2018, the cost of dental services was estimated to be approximately $17 billion in Canada, about $461 per Canadian, based on total national health expenditure estimated from both the private sector ($15.2 billion) and public sector ($1.8 billion).12 Poor oral health is experienced by Canadians who cannot access regular dental care, including lower-income families with no insurance, seniors in long-term care, new immigrants, and Indigenous peoples.2,13 Fluoride is a negative ion (F– ) of the element fluorine (F2).14 The term fluoride also refers to compounds containing F, such as sodium fluoride (NaF), calcium fluoride (CaF2), fluorosilicic acid (H2SiF6), or sodium fluorosilicate (Na2SiF6).14 In water, these compounds dissociate to release F.
