Abstract
The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and severity of dental fluorosis among 12-15-year-old students from João Pessoa, PB, Brazil before starting a program of artificial fluoridation of drinking water. The use of fluoridated dentifrice was also surveyed. A sample of 1,402 students was randomly selected. However, 31 students refused to participate and 257 were not permanent residents in João Pessoa, thus leaving a final sample of 1,114 students. Clinical exams were carried out by two calibrated dentists (Kappa = 0.78) under natural indirect light. Upper and lower front teeth were cleaned with gauze and dried, and then examined using the TF index for fluorosis. A questionnaire on dentifrice ingestion and oral hygiene habits was applied to the students. The results revealed that fluorosis prevalence in this age group was higher than expected (29.2%). Most fluorosis cases were TF = 1 (66.8%), and the most severe cases were TF = 4 (2.2%). The majority of the students reported that they had been using fluoridated dentifrices since childhood; 95% of the participants preferred brands with a 1,500 ppm F concentration, and 40% remembered that they usually ingested or still ingest dentifrice during brushing. It was concluded that dental fluorosis prevalence among students in João Pessoa is higher than expected for an area with non-fluoridated water. However, although most students use fluoridated dentifrices, and almost half ingest slurry while brushing, the majority of cases had little aesthetic relevance from the professionals' point of view, thus suggesting that fluorosis is not a public health problem in the locality.
Highlights
The use of fluoride in dental products, especially in dentifrices, has been considered as one of the main reasons for caries decline in several countries and industrialized areas of Brazil.[3,7,13,30]Fluoride can, induce toxic effects
The results revealed that fluorosis prevalence in this age group was higher than expected (29.2%)
It was concluded that dental fluorosis prevalence among students in João Pessoa is higher than expected for an area with non-fluoridated water
Summary
The use of fluoride in dental products, especially in dentifrices, has been considered as one of the main reasons for caries decline in several countries and industrialized areas of Brazil.[3,7,13,30]Fluoride can, induce toxic effects. The use of fluoride in dental products, especially in dentifrices, has been considered as one of the main reasons for caries decline in several countries and industrialized areas of Brazil.[3,7,13,30]. Chronic intoxication with fluoride affects the tooth mineralization process, resulting in hypomineralized enamel which is characterized by greater porosity than that of normal enamel. This condition is called dental fluorosis.[28] The severity of the fluorotic enamel depends on the dose and on the duration of fluoride exposure.[29]. The majority of the Brazilian data on F-exposure are from cities in the Southern and Southeastern regions of the country, where individuals are exposed to fluoridated water as well as other sources of fluoride.[8,12,20] a thorough observation of the isolated effect of fluoridated dentifrices ingestion during childhood is much more difficult
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have