Prevalence of dental fluorosis and associated risk factors in 11-15 year old school children of Kanyakumari District, Tamilnadu, India: a cross sectional survey.
Article
in English
| IMSEAR
| ID: sea-51560
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES:
This study presents data on the prevalence and severity of dental fluorosis in 11-15-years-old school children of Kanyakumari district, TamilNadu, India, and also the relationships between prevalence of dental fluorosis and selected risk factors. MATERIALS ANDMETHODS:
A total of 1800 children, from all the nine blocks of Kanyakumari district, studying in classes 6-10 were examined using type III examination. The assessment form designed specifically for this study was used while examining each student.RESULTS:
Dental fluorosis was present in 15.8% (285 children) of the study population and the community fluorosis index was calculated to be 0.27. The prevalence of dental fluorosis varied from as low as 1.4% in some blocks to as high as 29.4% in some others. There was a significant difference in the level of dental fluorosis between rural and urban residents ( P < 0.001). The prevalence of dental fluorosis was higher in children who consumed pipe water as compared to children who consumed ground water. 65% of the children with dental fluorosis had no caries, indicating the positive effects of fluoride.CONCLUSIONS:
The prevalence of dental fluorosis can be attributed to the level of fluoride in the drinking water as it exhibited a step-wise increase when the water fluoride levels increased from 1.5-1.7 ppm. Measures for defluoridation of drinking water before distribution has to be taken in the high prevalence blocks to lower the burden of dental fluorosis in this community.
Full text:
Available
Index:
IMSEAR (South-East Asia)
Main subject:
Tea
/
Toothbrushing
/
Toothpastes
/
Water Supply
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Cariostatic Agents
/
Child
/
DMF Index
Type of study:
Etiology study
/
Observational study
/
Prevalence study
/
Prognostic study
/
Risk factors
Country/Region as subject:
Asia
Language:
English
Year:
2008
Type:
Article
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