UK - Lymington Times letter

SIR, — Regarding fluoridation and the 'A&T' story revealing improved dental statistics relating to Southampton flve-year-olds:
The most recent survey suggested that the teeth of the city's children now have average levels of decay, and not much worse than average — h.s previously claimed by the NHS.
The .strategic health authority (SHA) said comparing this year's statistics with previous data would give the false impression of an improvement in dental health because the new research was done • differently.
There are two problems with this response. First, an analysis of the statistics shows that the teeth of those who were omitted from the survey would have had to be really bad to have increased the Southampton decay rate to the level of earlier surveys.
Secondly, the same revised means of research indicated that the dental health of (unfluoridated) Southampton five-year-olds was now considerably better than those who live in (fluoridated) central Birmingham. How does the SHA explain that?
Jason Merrit
Glenwood Avenue,
Bassett.