Preventive
Erica Chillemi, DMD
Resident
University of Florida —Gainesville and Naples, Naples, FL
University of FLorida
Naples, Florida, United States
Maria Davila de Gonzalez, DDS, MPH, DrPH
University of Florida
Susan Gorman, RDH, M ed.
University of Florida
Abimbola O. Adewumi, BDS, FDSRCS
Program Director
University of Florida
Gainesville, Florida, United States
Kelly Magher, DDS
Residency Program Director
University of Florida, Naples
Naples, Florida, United States
Purpose: The purpose of this pilot study was to assess knowledge and opinions of parents in a rural community regarding water fluoridation and compare these with their children’s caries prevalence.
Methods: Surveys regarding community water fluoridation were administered to parents of new patients at the Amigos Center in Immokalee, Florida, who presented for dental screenings by the University of Florida Dental Outreach Team. The dmft/DMFT indices of the patients were collected. A descriptive analysis was conducted.
Results: Twenty-seven surveys were administered. The mean ages of the children and parents were 4.41± 3.56 and 32.26±5.65 years, respectively. 81.5% responded that they had never heard of fluoride. 18.5% of parents had heard of fluoride from a dentist or physician. Of those who heard of fluoride, 40% knew that fluoridated water’s purpose is to prevent tooth decay. 92.6% answered that their child had never seen a dentist. Only 14.8% answered that their children drink tap water at home. The mean dmft/DMFT indices were 2.6± 3.8 and 4.8± 8.5, respectively. The dmft/DMFT indices were 1.0± 1.9 and 0.15±0.90, respectively, in children whose parents had heard of fluoride. There was a significant difference between parents who heard of fluoride and dmft index, as well as education level and DMFT index (P < .05).
Conclusions: There is a lack of parental knowledge regarding fluoride in rural populations. In children whose parents demonstrate less knowledge about fluoride, caries prevalence is higher in both primary and permanent teeth; though in this study the latter relationship is not statistically significant. Educational interventions about fluoridated water for parents in rural communities are needed to help reduce caries burden in children.