Iran Occupational Health

  Background and aims

  The fluoride of water can increase the resistance of enamel of teeth against dental caries. In places with low fluoride level in potable water, dental caries is very high before puberty. The aim of this study was to determine the fluoride level of potable water of Ilam- Iran and it's relation to DMF criteria in workers of industrial city of Ilam.

  Methods

  This study was done in fall of 1999 on the 320 workers which their age was between 20-34 (x ± SD:28.1 ± 1) years old by descriptive analytical method. The factories were selected by  cluster sampling and workers were selected by random sampling from different socio-economic  status.

  Results

  The mean concentration of fluoride in potable water was 0.28 mg/l which is lower the standard limit. The average value for DMF Index was 4.3 in workers. There was a significant negative correlation between fluoride control of potable water and number of DMF teeth

 (r=0.1 , p= 0.01 ). The lowest value of DMF index was in range of 20-23 years old. When the fluoride content of water was higher, the dental caries was lower.

  Conclusion

  The addition of fluoride to potable water to about 1mg/l, health educational  programs and fortification of foods in Industrial regions and factories is recommended.