National Board Dental Hygiene Examination (NBDHE) Dental Hygienist Practice Test

The recommended weekly supplemental dosage of fluoride for a patient aged 6-16 living in a non-fluoridated area is indeed 1.0 mg. This dosage is based on guidelines provided by various health organizations, which emphasize the importance of fluoride in caries prevention, especially in populations that do not receive adequate fluoride from systemic sources or community water supplies.

Fluoride plays a crucial role in strengthening tooth enamel and making it more resistant to decay. For children in this age group who may not have access to fluoridated water, the supplemental fluoride helps them receive the necessary amount for optimal dental health. The dosage of 1.0 mg per week is deemed sufficient to achieve this goal without exceeding the recommended limits, reducing the risk of dental fluorosis that can occur with excessive fluoride exposure.

For further understanding, it is valuable to know that lower dosages, such as 0.5 mg or 0.25 mg, may not provide adequate protection against dental caries in this age group, while dosages like 0.01 mg are far too low to have any significant effect. Therefore, the 1.0 mg weekly dosage is the most effective and recommended amount for fluoride supplementation in non-fluorid