Animal experimental work has suggested that ultraviolet radiation reduces dental caries incidence. The opportunity to complete a study on children in the 1-ppm water fluoridated community of Wetaskiwin, Alberta, Canada, through an experimental school design study, became possible between 1982 and 1984 as in winter children have to travel to and from school during hours of darkness. Two classrooms at the four primary schools in the city had full spectrum lighting introduced and the 102 children entering grade 5 spent 22 months of study in the same classrooms; 83 (81%) remained in the trial. Each child had DMFT, DMFS, including degree of caries involvement, gingivitis and oral hygiene indices recorded. Results showed that children receiving the full spectrum light had very low or no increase in caries incidence over the 22-month period compared with controls. DMFS findings, excluding ‘sticky fissures’ over the 22-month period, increased from 2.67 to 3.23 in the group receiving full spectrum light, compared with an increase of 2.32 to 4.46 in the control group (p < 0.001).

Keywords:
Dental caries, Prevention, Ultraviolet light
This content is only available via PDF.
© 1989 S. Karger AG, Basel
1989
Copyright / Drug Dosage / Disclaimer
Copyright: All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be translated into other languages, reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, microcopying, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Drug Dosage: The authors and the publisher have exerted every effort to ensure that drug selection and dosage set forth in this text are in accord with current recommendations and practice at the time of publication. However, in view of ongoing research, changes in government regulations, and the constant flow of information relating to drug therapy and drug reactions, the reader is urged to check the package insert for each drug for any changes in indications and dosage and for added warnings and precautions. This is particularly important when the recommended agent is a new and/or infrequently employed drug.
Disclaimer: The statements, opinions and data contained in this publication are solely those of the individual authors and contributors and not of the publishers and the editor(s). The appearance of advertisements or/and product references in the publication is not a warranty, endorsement, or approval of the products or services advertised or of their effectiveness, quality or safety. The publisher and the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to persons or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content or advertisements.
You do not currently have access to this content.