IADR Abstract Archives
Fluorosis Following Reduction of Fluoride Level in the Water Supply
Objectives: To assess the prevalence and severity of dental fluorosis among Malaysian children whose maxillary central incisors developed during periods with different fluoride levels in the Malaysian water supply.
Methods: This study involved life-long residents aged 9 and 12 year-olds in fluoridated and non-fluoridated areas in Malaysia (n=1155). In the fluoridated area, children aged 12 years and 9 years were exposed to 0.7 and 0.5 ppmF respectively at the times when maxillary central incisors enamel developed. Standardized photographs of maxillary central incisors were blind scored for fluorosis using Dean’s criteria. Fluoride exposures were assessed by questionnaire. Data were examined using descriptive, bivariate and multivariate statistics.
Results: The fluorosis experience in the studied population was mostly very mild to mild. The prevalence of aesthetic fluorosis (Dean’s score≥2) among children in the fluoridated area (35.7%, 95% CI: 31.9%-39.6%) was significantly higher (p<0.001) than children in the non-fluoridated area (5.5%, 95% CI: 3.6%-7.4%). Of those in the fluoridated area, the prevalence of aesthetic fluorosis decreased from 38.7% (95% CI: 33.1%-44.3%) for 12-year olds to 32.9% (95% CI: 27.6%-38.2%) for 9-year olds, although this difference was not statistically significant (p=0.139). The prevalence of aesthetic fluorosis was significantly associated with parents’ education level, parents’ income, fluoridated water, type of infant feeding method, age finished breast feeding, use of formula milk, duration of formula milk intake, and type of water used to reconstitute formula milk.
Conclusions: The prevalence of fluorosis was higher amongst children resident in the fluoridated community. A decrease in the prevalence of fluorosis across birth cohorts corresponded to the 0.2 ppmF reduction in the concentration of fluoride in the water during enamel development.
Methods: This study involved life-long residents aged 9 and 12 year-olds in fluoridated and non-fluoridated areas in Malaysia (n=1155). In the fluoridated area, children aged 12 years and 9 years were exposed to 0.7 and 0.5 ppmF respectively at the times when maxillary central incisors enamel developed. Standardized photographs of maxillary central incisors were blind scored for fluorosis using Dean’s criteria. Fluoride exposures were assessed by questionnaire. Data were examined using descriptive, bivariate and multivariate statistics.
Results: The fluorosis experience in the studied population was mostly very mild to mild. The prevalence of aesthetic fluorosis (Dean’s score≥2) among children in the fluoridated area (35.7%, 95% CI: 31.9%-39.6%) was significantly higher (p<0.001) than children in the non-fluoridated area (5.5%, 95% CI: 3.6%-7.4%). Of those in the fluoridated area, the prevalence of aesthetic fluorosis decreased from 38.7% (95% CI: 33.1%-44.3%) for 12-year olds to 32.9% (95% CI: 27.6%-38.2%) for 9-year olds, although this difference was not statistically significant (p=0.139). The prevalence of aesthetic fluorosis was significantly associated with parents’ education level, parents’ income, fluoridated water, type of infant feeding method, age finished breast feeding, use of formula milk, duration of formula milk intake, and type of water used to reconstitute formula milk.
Conclusions: The prevalence of fluorosis was higher amongst children resident in the fluoridated community. A decrease in the prevalence of fluorosis across birth cohorts corresponded to the 0.2 ppmF reduction in the concentration of fluoride in the water during enamel development.