Oral Health and Dental Management

Abstract

Urinary fluoride excretion by children and elderly individuals in Romania (Timisoara and Bucarest)

RJ Baez, A Podariu, TM Marthaler, MX Baez, L Floarea

Objective: Estimate fluoride exposure via renal excretion in institutionalized children 2-16 years of
age and adults 26 to 97 years-old. Methods: Procedures followed WHO guidelines. Daytime and nocturnal urine samples planned to cover 24 hours were collected from 50 children in Timisoara and 40
from Bucharest, and from forty-eight elderly adults from Timisoara. Subjects' weights, times of initial
bladder voiding and end of collection period, as well as volume for each micturition were recorded.
Samples were analyzed using potentiometer and specific fluoride electrodes Samples were tested
in duplicate on site and later at the University of Zurich.
Conclusions: The low fluoride excretion findings by children and adults in two Romanian cities are
important and indicate the need for increasing fluoride supply by systemic fluoride for dental caries
prevention. Nationwide salt fluoridation could be implemented in Romania, thereby improving substantially dental health. Since most of the cariostatic effect is due to topical fluoride protection mechanisms, adults would also benefit. Simultaneously use of fluoridated salt and dentifrices containing fluoride, rapid improvements of dental health in Romania would be obtained. It would be necessary to demonstrate existence of isolated water supplies or entire regions where natural content of fluoride would be > 0.5 or 0.7 mg/l.