Spatial distribution of groundwater fluoride levels and population at risk for dental caries and dental fluorosis in Sri Lanka |
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| Authors: | Nirosha Ranasinghe Estie Kruger Marc Tennant |
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| Affiliation: | 1. International Research Collaborative – Oral Health And Equity, Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Human Biology, School of Human Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia |
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| Abstract: | Objectives: To investigate the distribution of groundwater fluoride levels in Sri Lanka in relation to its population distribution to determine the population at risk for dental caries or dental fluorosis. Methods: The study used the most upgraded spatial distribution map of groundwater fluoride levels in Sri Lanka, and it was overlaid with a census of population data of the country. Results: The results indicated that 12% of children aged <12 years were at risk for dental fluorosis, while 81.4% of those who lived in low-fluoride zones were vulnerable for development of dental decay. Overall, 82.4% of the country’s population lived in low-fluoride zones and 11.2% were at risk of potential health hazards posed by ingestion of excessive fluoride. Conclusion: The spatial approach provides a useful decision-support tool for developing an oral health strategy of safe fluoride use based on predicted oral health risks in communities.Key words: Groundwater, dental fluorosis, dental caries, spatial distribution |
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| Keywords: | Groundwater dental fluorosis dental caries spatial distribution |
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