What level of prevention is targeted by water defluoridation?

The correct answer is Primary prevention.

Key Points

•  Primary prevention:-
  • Water defluoridation is a primary level of prevention.
  • Primary prevention is aimed at preventing the occurrence of a disease or condition before it even begins.
  • In the case of water defluoridation, the goal is to prevent dental and skeletal fluorosis by removing excess fluoride from drinking water.
  • Dental fluorosis is a condition that causes discoloration and pitting of the teeth.
  • Skeletal fluorosis is a more serious condition that can cause bone pain, stiffness, and deformities.
  • Both dental and skeletal fluorosis can be caused by consuming excessive amounts of fluoride, especially during childhood.

Additional Information

•  Tertiary prevention:-
  • It reduces the severity of a disease or condition and improve quality of life after it has already occurred.
• Secondary prevention:-
  • It detects and treat a disease or condition early, before it causes serious harm.
• Primordial prevention:-
  • It prevents the development of a disease or condition before it even begins.