A photographic study of enamel defects among South Australian school children

Colour photographs were taken of the anterior teeth of 1757 consenting 8-9 year old primary school children in fluoridated and non-fluoridated areas of South Australia. Children with a lifelong exposure to fluoridated water were significantly more likely to have blemished permanent incisor teeth than the children who had never resided in a fluoridated area. Children who resided in a non-fluoridated area but had taken fluoride supplements at some stage in their first five years had a prevalence of enamel blemishes equivalent to those of children in fluoridated areas of the State.