1. Inhibitory effect of barium on human caries prevalence.
- Author
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Zdanowicz JA, Featherstone JD, Espeland MA, and Curzon ME
- Subjects
- Adolescent, Barium administration & dosage, Child, DMF Index, Dental Caries prevention & control, Female, Humans, Illinois, Male, Water Supply, Barium pharmacology, Dental Caries epidemiology
- Abstract
The aim of this investigation was to determine if barium in drinking water, in combination with fluoride, has an effect on caries prevalence in a human population. Children, aged 12-14 yr, were selected from two towns which had a similar socioeconomic and racial balance but one had a barium concentration of 8.0-10.0 ppm in its drinking water and the other a level which was less than 0.03 ppm. The caries prevalence, as mean DMFS, was significantly lower in the high barium town (2.76 +/- 0.82) than in the low barium town (5.14 +/- 0.65). The difference in mottling scores between the two towns was not significant (P = 0.44, chi-square test). This difference in mean DMFS between the high and low barium communities could not be explained by an effect of other covariate factors.
- Published
- 1987
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