Assessment of Periodontal Status in Patients with Dental Fluorosis - A Retrospective Hospital Based Study

Abstract

Dental fluorosis is a defect caused in the enamel of the tooth structure due to more fluoride intake during the developmental stages of teeth. The effect of fluoride on the periodontal tissues remains obscure. Thus, the aim of the study was to retrospectively assess the periodontal status of patients with dental fluorosis who had reported to a private dental hospital. A total of 378 patients who had dental fluorosis were included in the study. Periodontal status, Dean's fluorosis index, oral hygiene index values for all the patients were recorded. The required data was collected and SPSS Software was used to assess the data. Among the study population, 71% of them were males and 29% of them were females. According to the Deans fluorosis index, among the study population, a total of 1.6% of subjects had a score of questionable, 21% of subjects had very mild, 37% of subjects has mild fluorosis, 31% had moderate and around 9% of the patients had severe form of fluorosis. There was no statistically significant association seen between age and the degree of dental fluorosis (p value 0.602). The association between Dean's fluorosis index and periodontal status was found to be statistically not significant. (p value-0.300). The severity of dental fluorosis was more in the gingivitis patients than periodontitis patients, however the results were not statistically significant. Within the limitations of the present retrospective analysis, a possible relationship exists between periodontal disease and degree of dental fluorosis with a male prevalence for dental fluorosis. A mild to moderate degree of dental fluorosis was seen in the majority of the study subjects. The severity of dental fluorosis was more in the gingivitis patients than periodontitis patients, however the results were not statistically significant.