[Comparative study of weight, length and congenital defects before and after water fluoridation in Valparaiso].

The purpose of this study was to establish any statistical significance between weight, length and congenital defects in births occurred before and after fluoridation in Valparaiso-Chile. A review was performed over 4.899 controlled births occurred in the Naval Hospital of Valparaíso during both periods (Before = 1983-84 and after = 1987-88). The results were analysed statistically by mean significance test (alpha = 0.05). In contrary to other studies, no difference were determined between births weight mean and birth length mean, by sexes, before and after fluoridation. No congenital defects (Down's syndrome, intraventricular septal defects and cleft lips) were associated with fluoridated water.