Dental fluorosis and associated risk factors in early adolescents in India

Abstract

Background Dental fluorosis has a negative impact on the facial esthetics of adolescents and is a worldwide oral health concern. Objective To assess the prevalence and associated risk factors for dental fluorosis in early adolescents in India. Methods This was a cross-sectional study carried out on 800 adolescent school children selected from the Jhabua and Dhar districts of Madhya Pradesh, India. The children were in the of 12-15-year age group. A total of eight schools from both Jhabua and Dhar districts were included in the study. A self-administered questionnaire collected information on demographic characteristics, oral hygiene practices and various risk factors for dental fluorosis. Water samples were collected from each zone and sent to a laboratory for water fluoride estimation. Dental fluorosis was assessed using the Dean index. Chi-squared (χ2) and logistic regression analysis were performed. Results The overall prevalence of dental fluorosis was found to be 40.5% in early adolescents. The prevalence of dental fluorosis was found to be 45% in the Jhabua district and 36% in the Dhar district. The water fluoride content was found to be the strongest predictor for dental fluorosis followed by the method of water storage. Conclusion Dental fluorosis affects a large number of adolescents in both the Jhabua and Dhar districts of Madhya Pradesh. Effective policies focusing on oral health education and prevention of dental fluorosis need to be drafted.

Oral and dental status of Lebanese and Syrian refugees living in proximity to Deir Kanoun Ras El Ain dump in Lebanon

“…Fluorosis is caused by excess intake of fluoride that could be from different sources including drinking water,[28] vegetables and fruits grown in soils irrigated with fluorinated water or supplied with fertilizer and pesticides, fish, and dental products. [2930] Our findings are consistent with several studies where human populations in countries such as China,[31] India,[32] Iran,[33] Libya,[34] Turkey,[35] Saudi Arabia,[36] Algeria,[37] and Jordan[38] have been reported to be suffering from dental fluorosis due to the consumption of fluoride-enriched water and food.…”

Dental fluorosis frequency and its association with the socio-economic level at a rural area in Cotopaxi province, Ecuador

“…The DEAN Index was developed in 1942, with the purpose of identifying the severity and distribution of this pathology in various communities, it considers values that change from 0 to 5, and assesses the vestibular faces of teeth 11, 12, 21, and 22 (13,14). The Thylstrup and Fejerskov Index (TF) was designed to refine, modify, and extend the original concepts established by DEAN, constituting to a more sensitive classification systems, which would allow recording changes on the enamel extension.…”

Prevalence and incidence of dental fluorosis in India: protocol for a systematic review and Meta-analysis

“…Other sources include certain foods, certain beverages especially tea, avored beverages and soft drinks (sugar cane, green tea) also contain a high level of uorides. 12,13,14 Many researchers tried to investigate the pooled prevalence of dental uorosis in various countries through systematic review and meta-analysis viz. Iran 15 (52.6%), Brazil 16 (8.92 % in non-uoridated areas and of 51.96 artesian wells water supply regions), Ethiopian rift valley 17 (28%), and Saudi Arabia 18 (46.52%).…”