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Oral health of Australian children using surface and artesian water supplies
Author(s) -
Schamschula R. G.,
Cooper M. H.,
Agus H. M.,
Un P. S. H.
Publication year - 1981
Publication title -
community dentistry and oral epidemiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.061
H-Index - 101
eISSN - 1600-0528
pISSN - 0301-5661
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0528.1981.tb01024.x
Subject(s) - artesian aquifer , medicine , oral hygiene , oral health , environmental health , hygiene , dentistry , groundwater , aquifer , geotechnical engineering , pathology , engineering
Oral health parameters were compared for 6–8 and 10–11‐year‐old children living in neighbouring N. S. W. towns, where the community water supplies consisted of artesian and river water respectively. The demographic characteristics, living pattern and dietary carbohydrate challenge were similar in the two areas and effective oral hygiene practices were uniformly lacking. Children in the artesian water area had 40% lower caries prevalence (DIMFT), 50% less severe carious lesions (SR) and significantly better oral hygiene (OHI) and gingival condition (PI) and correspondingly lesser treatment needs than those supplied by river water. The findings were examined in relation to the concentrations of 10 elements in roof catchment, river and artesian water. Apart from a contribution by fluoride to better oral health, the results implicate lithium as a possible beneficial element.