DENTAL CARIES INCIDENCE

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28951, 20 July 1959, Page 18

DENTAL CARIES INCIDENCE

New Line Of Research In Progress The incidence of dental caries in children up to the age of about 10 years has been found to be considerably lower in Napier when compared with Hastings before the introduction of fluoridation, the annual report of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research comments. The Napier earthquake resulted in the draining of previously saline soils and the raising of part of the lagoon floor, so that a considerable area of the soils around Napier had a recent marine history, the report says. A number of market garden soils in the Napier and Hastings areas had been analysed by the Soil Bureau, and differences found which could be attributed to the marine influence in Napier. The soil differences were reflected in the composition of vegetables from the areas, especially trace elements. While the full range of trace elements had not yet been com pleted. it was noticeable that molybdenum was higher in vegetables from Napier. The study was being extended to see if the soil and plant differences were reflected in animals, especially the bones and teeth