Posteruptive Effects of Fluoridation on First Permanent Molars of Children in Grand Rapids, Michigan

Abstract

Grand Rapids and Muskegon children with at least 2 first permanent molars erupted at the time of the 1944-45 prefluoridation examinations were reexamined in 1956 by clinical and X-ray technique. Caries of these teeth was scored according to size of lesions or restorations and caries-scores from Grand Rapids, fluoridated 11 years, were compared with caries-scores from Muskegon, fluoridated 5 years. Data indicated that the Grand Rapids children had less caries in these teeth than did the Muskegon children. This supports the hypothesis that artificial fluoridation exerts a posteruptive inhibitory effect on caries.