Fluoride And Caring for Children's Teeth (FACCT): Clinical Fieldwork Protocol.

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Pediatric Dentistry
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Irish national surveys showed reduced dental caries but increased enamel fluorosis between 1984 and 2002.
• In response, Ireland lowered community water fluoridation (CWF) levels in 2007 and issued new fluoride toothpaste guidelines in 2002.
• The Fluoride and Caring for Children's Teeth (FACCT) project investigates these policy changes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of revised community water fluoridation (CWF) policy (2007) and fluoride toothpaste recommendations (2002) on dental caries and enamel fluorosis in Irish schoolchildren.
• To assess oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in relation to these public health interventions.
• To analyze the long-term effects of CWF exposure on children's oral health outcomes.

Main Methods:

• A mixed-methods study combining cross-sectional and longitudinal designs.
• Trained dental examiners assessed dental caries (dmf/DMF Index) and enamel fluorosis (Dean's Index) in primary schoolchildren (ages 5 and 12) in 2013-2014.
• Parent and child questionnaires gathered data on explanatory variables; 5-year-olds were followed up at age 8.

Main Results:

• The primary explanatory variable is lifetime exposure to community water fluoridation (CWF).
• Multivariate regression analyses will determine the impact of CWF policy changes on oral health outcomes.
• Results will be controlled for other relevant explanatory variables collected via questionnaires.

Conclusions:

• The study will provide crucial data on the effectiveness of CWF policy adjustments in managing dental caries and enamel fluorosis.
• Findings will inform future public health strategies for optimizing children's oral health in fluoridated communities.
• The research addresses the balance between caries prevention and fluorosis risk in pediatric populations.