RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prevalence of dental fluorosis in scholars aging 12 to 15 years old, residents in the city of Bauru, State of São Paulo, Brazil. METHODS: 1318 volunteers were enrolled in this study and examined in 18 public schools of the State of São Paulo. The examinations were performed in the schools' court by three dentists (with a Master's degree in Public Health), after toothbrushing supervised by another dentist. The teeth were dried with cotton pellets and examined under natural light by visual inspection, using an explorer as recommended by the WHO, a plane mirror and a tongue depressor. The Thylstrup-Fejerskov (TF) index was used for rating fluorosis. Intra and inter-examiner reproducibility was calculated and data were submitted to descriptive analysis. RESULTS: Approximately 36 percent of the children presented dental fluorosis, of which 28 percent was diagnosed as TF1 while the remaining received scores between TF2 and TF4. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of dental fluorosis in Bauru is within the expected range, based on previous studies. Although fluoride is an important resource for caries control, its use must be adequate to the needs of each specific population.
RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prevalence of dental fluorosis in scholars aging 12 to 15 years old, residents in the city of Bauru, State of São Paulo, Brazil. METHODS: 1318 volunteers were enrolled in this study and examined in 18 public schools of the State of São Paulo. The examinations were performed in the schools' court by three dentists (with a Master's degree in Public Health), after toothbrushing supervised by another dentist. The teeth were dried with cotton pellets and examined under natural light by visual inspection, using an explorer as recommended by the WHO, a plane mirror and a tongue depressor. The Thylstrup-Fejerskov (TF) index was used for rating fluorosis. Intra and inter-examiner reproducibility was calculated and data were submitted to descriptive analysis. RESULTS: Approximately 36% of the children presented dental fluorosis, of which 28% was diagnosed as TF1 while the remaining received scores between TF2 and TF4. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of dental fluorosis in Bauru is within the expected range, based on previous studies. Although fluoride is an important resource for caries control, its use must be adequate to the needs of each specific population.
RESUMO
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the extent to which domestic, activated carbon water filters remove fluoride from water and to analyze the fluoride level of the public water supply in Bauru, province of São Paulo, Brazil. METHODS: Samples of filtered and nonfiltered tap water were collected from 180 houses in 9 different regions in the city; each served with its own water treatment facility. Fluoride was analyzed with the ion specific electrode (Orion 9609). RESULTS: Of the filters presented in the 180 houses, only 12 removed fluoride from water, either totally (3) or partially (9). Water fluoride concentrations in 6 regions were within the acceptable range (0.5 to 1.0 ppm). Overfluoridation was observed in 1 area, and underfluoridation was seen in 2 areas. CONCLUSIONS: Most domestic activated carbon filters did not remove fluoride from water. Children who drank filtered water did not need fluoride supplementation. As has been shown in other studies, the fluoride level in the public water supply in some regions of Bauru was not adequate on the day analyzed.