ABSTRACT
A. Deninger adopted in a practical manner the idea of giving some of his patients tablets containing calcium fluoride in order to control their susceptibility to dental decay. Once the mottling effect of an overdose of naturally occurring fluorides was confirmed, changes in the source of drinking water solved that problem in most places. In rural school districts where water fluoridation cannot be implemented through communal water supplies, school water fluoridation has been demonstrated to be successful in controlling dental caries of children. Dietary elements considered for fluoride supplementation have included milk, bread, cereal and salt. A large proportion of research has dealt with the topical effect of fluoride on dental caries. Several major monographs have been largely devoted to the subject. Outside of the United States and Canada, the Western nations have been slow in adopting water fluoridation as a public health measure.
