[Fluoride status of a community and fluoride concentration in its drinking water]

Despite the low fluoride (F) content of the drinking water (less than 0.05 mg/l), an optimum to above optimum daily F intake was shown for the community in Tshikundamalema (Republic of Venda, Southern Africa). In order to evaluate the biological availability of fluoride in the diet, the assimilation of the fluoride ion in enamel was tested. Six age groups (selected according to WHO criteria) consisting of 10 individuals each were used in the study. Enamel biopsies (2N HCl0(4); 3,143 mm2; 8 seconds) were conducted on the mid-labial surfaces of the central maxillary incisors. The fluoride concentrations of the etching solutions were analyzed according to the potentiometric analytical method. The calcium concentrations were determined by means of a flame spectrophotometer. The F content of the outer 10 microns in the enamel of the community was examined in relation to the total daily intake of fluoride for the community. The results obtained from the study showed that, the F content of the enamel of the community (x = 1,133 pg/micrograms; 10 microns depth of etch) correlated with the F intake of the community (x = 3.15 mg F/day). Thus the F content of the diet was biologically available to the body. However, between age groups and sexes, no correlation could be found between the fluoride status and the fluoride intake.