Expected caries preventive benefits of fluoridating L.A. water supplies.

Water fluoridation at the optimal concentration for the geographic area confers the maximum decay preventive benefits. Numerous communities have suboptimal levels of naturally occurring fluoride. The question of how much additional caries preventive benefits would be obtained if these communities fluoridate is of more than academic interest. Using Los Angeles as an example, this paper estimates the additional caries preventive benefits that may be realized in adjusting the fluoride concentration to the ideal.