External control of water fluoridation in a small municipality of northeast of Brazil

Abstract Introduction Fluoridation of public water supply is an important measure in the prevention of dental caries. Objective This study aimed to monitor the fluoride (F) concentrations of a public water supply with water fluoridation program in a small municipality in the Northeast region of Brazil. Material and method It is a quantitative study with a descriptive approach. Three points of the urban area were selected for collecting water samples twice a month for 12 months. The average of F concentrations was calculated considering these three samples of each collection point at the same occasion. F concentrations in the water samples were determined by potentiometry and the results were classified according to the criterion proposed by criterion set down by Collaborating Center of the Brazilian Ministry of Health for Oral Health Surveillance. The samples were classified according to the best risk-benefit adjustment (0.55 – 0.84 mg F /L). Result Less than 10% of the samples were within the ideal range. Conclusion It was observed that water fluoridation in this municipality was interrupted since many water samples showed f-levels below the minimal acceptable values.

摘要
引言 公共供水氟化是预防龋齿的重要举措。
研究目的 本研究旨在监测巴西东北部一座小型城市实施饮水氟化项目的公共供水系统中的氟（Fluoride, F）浓度。
材料与方法 本研究为描述性定量研究。选取城区内3个采样点，在12个月内每月采集两次水样。每次采样时，对同一采样点的3份水样取均值以计算氟浓度。采用电位法测定水样中的氟浓度，并依据巴西卫生部口腔健康监测合作中心制定的标准对检测结果进行分类，其中符合最佳风险收益平衡的氟浓度范围为0.55–0.84 mg F/L。
研究结果 仅有不足10%的水样处于理想浓度区间。
研究结论 本研究发现该城市的饮水氟化项目已中断，因多数水样的氟含量低于可接受的最低限值。