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Dental Caries (Cavities): Community Water Fluoridation

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An Evidence-Based Practice

Description

Community water fluoridation is the controlled adjustment of fluoride in a public water supply to help prevent tooth decay (i.e., dental caries or cavities) in the community.

Fluoride prevents tooth decay by preventing demineralization and enhancing remineralization of tooth enamel. Although fluoride occurs naturally in water across the U.S., it is usually lower than the optimal concentration needed to prevent dental caries.

Impact

The Community Preventive Services Task Force (CPSTF) recommends community water fluoridation to reduce tooth decay (i.e., dental caries or cavities).

Results / Accomplishments

Results from both the McDonough et al. review and the updated search for evidence showed a decrease in new dental caries after community water fluoridation began and an increase in new dental caries when it stopped.
-Combined evidence showed a median decrease of 15.2 percentage points in caries after community water fluoridation began (12 studies).
-Included studies showed that community water fluoridation reduced the prevalence of dental caries across socioeconomic groups.

About this Promising Practice

Primary Contact
The Community Guide
1600 Clifton Rd, NE
MS H21-8
Atlanta, GA 30329
(404) 498-1827
communityguide@cdc.gov
https://www.thecommunityguide.org/
Topics
Health / Oral Health
For more details
https://www.thecommunityguide.org/findings/dental-...

Related Promising Practices

  1. CDC COMMUNITY GUIDE: Preventing Dental Caries: Community Water Fluoridation
  2. Missouri's Community Water Fluoridation Program
  3. Baby Bottle Tooth Decay Program
  4. Early Childhood Cavities Prevention Program
  5. New Jersey "Save our Smiles" Fluoride Mouthrinse Program
  6. School-Based Intervention to Promote Tooth Brushing

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An Evidence-Based Practice meets the following HCI criteria:

  1. The program description includes at a minimum: the sponsoring organization, program goals, program implementation steps, and outcomes that have demonstrated program success in achieving the program goal in one or more localities.
  2. The results from an evaluation of the program include quantitative measures showing improvement in the outcome(s) of interest after the implementation of the program (i.e. increase in smoking cessation, not just the delivery of a smoking cessation program). The outcome measure(s) is/are compared at relevant time periods before and after the intervention or program implementation. Alternatively, the evaluation study compares the outcome(s) between an intervention group and an appropriate control group.
  3. The study is of peer-review quality and presents numbers in a scientific manner; measurements of precision and reliability are included (e.g. confidence intervals, standard errors), results from statistical tests show a significant difference or change in the outcome measure(s), and relevant point estimates and p-values are presented. Note: if the results from an evaluation of a program are presented in a scientific manner and the outcome measure is improved compared to the baseline measurement or the control group but the difference is not statistically significant, the practice is classified as effective and not evidence-based.