The Strong Teeth Study; background, rationale and feasibility of fluoridating remote Indigenous communities

dc.contributor.authorSpencer, A.
dc.contributor.authorBailie, R.
dc.contributor.authorJamieson, L.
dc.date.issued2010
dc.description.abstractThe caries experience of Australian Indigenous children has deteriorated at the same time as that of non-Indigenous children has greatly improved. Fluoridating the water supplies of Indigenous communities emerged as a policy direction at the beginning of the 2000s. However, remote Indigenous communities are small, highly dispersed and isolated. This paper describes the Strong Teeth Study, a series of projects for the fluoridation of remote Indigenous communities in the Northern Territory. The background and rationale for two demonstration fluoridation projects are presented and the feasibility of operating small-scale fluoridation plant and measuring the impact on caries experience described. The demonstration fluoridation projects were commenced, but not sustained. The lessons learnt about environmental enablers and essential service requirements are highlighted. Fluoridation has the potential to improve oral health so as to contribute positively to child development as part of the broader mission of closing the gap in health between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.
dc.description.statementofresponsibilityA. J. Spencer, R. Bailie, L. Jamieson
dc.identifier.citationInternational Dental Journal, 2010; 60(3 Suppl 2):250-256
dc.identifier.doi10.1922/IDJ_2572Spencer07
dc.identifier.issn0020-6539
dc.identifier.issn1875-595X
dc.identifier.orcidSpencer, A. [0000-0002-3462-7456]
dc.identifier.orcidJamieson, L. [0000-0001-9839-9280]
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2440/62980
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherF D I World Dental Press Ltd
dc.relation.grantNHMRC
dc.rightsCopyright status unknown
dc.subjectFluoridation
dc.subjectchildren
dc.subjectremote
dc.subjectIndigenous communities
dc.titleThe Strong Teeth Study; background, rationale and feasibility of fluoridating remote Indigenous communities
dc.typeJournal article
pubs.publication-statusPublished

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