The prevalence of caries in 5-year-old children living in fluoridated and non-fluoridated communities in New Zealand.

The prevalence of caries in 5-year-old children living in fluoridated and non-fluoridated communities was investigated. Clinical examinations were completed on 342 children, of whom 247 had been continuously resident in their towns. Children living in fluoridated communities had significantly lower mean dmft and dmfs than children living in non-fluoridated communities. There was a marked social gradient in the non-fluoridated communities, which was not observed in the children from the fluoridated communities.