Prevalence of dental fluorosis among primary school children in rural areas of Chidambaram taluk, Cuddalore district, Tamil Nadu, India

Abstract

Background:Fluorosis is one of the common but major emerging areas of research in the tropics. It is considered endemic in 17 states of India. However, the Cuddalore district of Tamil Nadu is categorised as a fluorosis non-endemic area. But clinical cases of dental fluorosis were reported in the field practice area of Department of Community Medicine, Rajah Muthiah Medical College, Annamalai University, Chidambaram. Since dental fluorosis has been described as a biomarker of exposure to fluoride, we assessed the prevalence and severity of dental fluorosis among primary school children in the service area.Materials and Methods:Children studying in six primary schools of six villages in the field practice area of Rural Health Centre of Faculty of Medicine, Annamalai University, Chidambaram, were surveyed. Every child was clinically examined at the school by calibrated examiners with Dean's fluorosis index recommended by WHO (1997). Chi-square test, Chi-square trend test and Spearman's rank correlation coefficient test were used for statistical analysis.Results:Five hundred and twenty-five 5- to 12-year-old school children (255 boys and 270 girls) were surveyed. The overall dental fluorosis prevalence was found to be 31.4% in our study sample. Dental fluorosis increased with age P < 0.001, whereas gender difference was not statistically significant. Aesthetically objectionable dental fluorosis was found in 2.1% of the sample. Villages Senjicherry, Keezhaperambai and Kanagarapattu revealed a community fluorosis index (CFI) score of 0.43, 0.54 and 0.54 with 5.6%, 4.8% and 1.4% of objectionable dental fluorosis, respectively. Correlation between water fluoride content and CFI values in four villages was noted to be positively significant.Conclusion:Three out of six villages studied were in ‘borderline’ public health significance (CFI score 0.4-0.6). A well-designed epidemiological investigation can be undertaken to evaluate the risk factors associated with the condition in the study region.

Evaluation of Severity of Dental Fluorosis in Patients Attending Dental OPD - A Multicentric Prospective Study

“…Pipe water was the single most independent risk factor for dental fluorosis when association between water fluoride level and severity of dental fluorosis was considered for review. There was a positive association between dental fluorosis and source of water (P value< 0.05) Ninety five percent reported that they brushed their teeth only once,these findings were consistent with study done done by [15] The overall prevalence of dental fluorosis was found to be comparable with studies done by Saravanan S et al [10] and Mane AB et [15] . It was also observed that grade III and IV categories had caused discolouration of teeth,that is enamel hypoplasia probably occurred due to the consumption of water containing high level fluoride.…”

“…Status of each patients was also recorded using decayed, missing & filled tooth (DMFT),enamel mottling and severity of dental fluorosis was recorded using Dean's Index on the WHO modified oral health assessment form. [7][8][9][10].…”

Dental Fluorosis Status in School Children of Jaipur (Raj) India

“…This is similar to the findings in rural areas of Udaipur i.e 36.36 percent and at Kerala (35.36 percent). On the other hand, a lower prevalence (12.52 percent) was recorded by Jain (1979) [4] at Naila and S Saravanan (2008) [5] at Tamil Nadu recorded 31.4 percent. This difference in the proportion may be due to the more use of toothpaste and tooth powder nowadays which may contaion fluorides to make foams.…”

Epidemiological survey of fluorosis in a village of Bastar division of Chhattisgarh state, India

“…Prevalence of dental fl uorosis was more in 13-19 years age group (34.6%) followed by 6-12 years (23.6%) while prevalence was lower in >45 years age groups. Prevalence of skeletal fl uorosis was more common in above 45 years age group among both sexes while lower in the children (6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12). Prevalence of dental fl uorosis was more in the students (29.2%) whereas skeletal fl uorosis was the highest among farmers (35.1%).…”