Evaluation of Correlation of Dental Fluorosis and Cognitive Status.

ABSTRACT

Background: Fluoride in groundwater is more common in crystalline igneous rocks and alkaline soils located in semiarid climate, which exist in the northwestern parts of the Jharkhand state in the district of Garhwa and Palamu. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the intelligent quotient among children affected with and without dental fluorosis visiting dental college in the Garhwa district. Methods: The present prospective study comprised of 30 subjects selected randomly in the age group of 6-12 years visiting Vananchal dental college & hospital, Garhwa. The study compared IQ levels of children of study and control groups by means of Seguin Form Board Test. Data so obtained was statistically analyzed using Student ‘t’ test with p value <0.05 as significant value. Results: Regarding drinking water source, 45% was drinking groundwater among study group. Mean scores for average timing category was found to be significantly higher (P<0.05) among children with dental fluorosis (29±2.87) than among children without dental fluorosis (27±3.02). Conclusion: The present study concludes that children with dental fluorosis have low Intelligence Quotient (IQ) than children without dental fluorosis. About half of the patients suffering from dental fluorosis were dependent on groundwater for drinking purposes. Fluoride water level of villages located in these regions should be selected in priority for application of defluoridation measures.