An evaluation of a water fluoridation scheme in Cumbria
Research type
Research Study
Full title
An evaluation of a water fluoridation scheme in Cumbria: A population based comparative cohort study of systemic and topical fluoride exposure
IRAS ID
149278
Contact name
Michaela Goodwin
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
The University of Manchester
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
N/A, N/A
Duration of Study in the UK
7 years, 5 months, 1 days
Research summary
Tooth decay is the commonest disease of childhood. We have known for over 90 years that fluoride can prevent tooth decay. Water fluoridation has a 70-year history. Unfortunately the scientific evidence to tell us how well water fluoridation works and how cost effective it is in the current climate of falling decay levels is lacking. We have a unique opportunity to study the impact of water fluoridation in West Cumbria, as a new plant will come on line in May 2013. This project aims to provide strong evidence of the effects and costs of a ‘new’ water fluoridation scheme on young children. Water fluoridation works in two ways: Systemic (from birth) - built into the teeth strengthening them as they develop. Topical - strengthening the surface of the teeth after they have erupted in the mouth. The study design aims to assess the systemic and topical effects of water fluoridation by recruiting groups of children born over the period of a year and following them over the next 5/6 years. We will recruit all children born from September 2014 to September 2015 and examine their teeth at aged 3 and 5 years-old. This will enable us to assess the effects of fluoridation on the deciduous (baby) teeth.
Our main outcome measure will be to compare the number of children who develop any tooth decay in fluoridated and non-fluoridated area.REC name
East of England - Cambridge South Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/EE/0108
Date of REC Opinion
6 May 2014
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion