ALTITUDE AS A FACTOR IN THE PREVALENCE AND SEVERITY OF FLUOROSIS IN FOUR POPULATIONS OF ANCASH - PERU

To compare the prevalence and severity of dental fluorosis of children from four  regional altitudes with different  concentrations in drinking water  The study was subjected to 400 children from 6 to 12 years of age from 4 different regional altitudes; 100 children from each region:Los Olivos (3185m), Vicos , (2600m), Yuramarca  (1800 m), Nepeña  (144m). The Dean and  Thylstrup - Fejerskov indexes were used to assess the level of  dental fluorosis  in the subjects. A questionnaire was used to control the risk factors related to dental fluorosis.  We measured the fluoride concentration in drinking water from each Region with the  fluoride. ion selective electrode method.The fluoride concentration of drinking water from the 4 different regional altitudes were as follows:  0.87-0.72 ppm, 0.10-0.34ppm, 0.65-1.17ppm, and 0.18-0.34ppm. 75 percent of the population in this study has dental fluorosis in some degree.  This was significant to the relation between versus procedence and the Dean index; (x²=248.638, p<0,000), with the index TF (x²=317,785, p<0,000).  The conclusion from each region were:  Los Olivos 99%, Vicos; 88%, Yuramarca; 92%, and Nepeña ; 19%.

The prevalence and severity of dental fluorosis is directly proportionate to altitude compensation.  Based in our methodology, the altitude could be an important risk factor for dental fluorosis.