Water fluoridation is an example of which level of prevention?

Water fluoridation is an example of which level of prevention?

• A. Primary
• B. Secondary
• C. Tertiary
• D. Quaternary

Answer: (A)

Water fluoridation is a primary prevention measure because it aims to prevent dental caries before they occur. By adding fluoride to community water, teeth become more resistant to decay and remineralization is enhanced, reducing the overall incidence of caries across the population, including people who may not have regular dental care. It's applied to healthy individuals in the general population, not to those with early disease (that would involve screening) or to those with established disease needing treatment (tertiary care). Quaternary prevention isn’t about this kind of population-wide prevention either. So, the best fit is primary prevention.

Water fluoridation is a primary prevention measure because it aims to prevent dental caries before they occur. By adding fluoride to community water, teeth become more resistant to decay and remineralization is enhanced, reducing the overall incidence of caries across the population, including people who may not have regular dental care. It's applied to healthy individuals in the general population, not to those with early disease (that would involve screening) or to those with established disease needing treatment (tertiary care). Quaternary prevention isn’t about this kind of population-wide prevention either. So, the best fit is primary prevention.