Summary
Fluoridation of drinking water, began to be implemented in 1950’s in Chile to prevent the main problem of oral health in the population, dental caries. It has been consistently applied in the country and Temuco city since 2004. However, intake of fluorides in critical periods of tooth development excessively produces dental fluorosis. The aim was to determine the prevalence and severity of dental fluorosis in elementary schoolchildren consuming fluoridated drinking water in the city of Temuco, Chile and its association with the history of dental caries. A descriptive and explanatory epidemiological study with a stratified random sample of 7-years schoolchildren of private, subsidized and municipal elementary schools in Temuco city was performed. On a sample of 317 children, Dean’s index and history of caries was determined. The prevalence of dental fluorosis was 53.31% (169 children), and severity rate was questionable, very mild and mild in 31.36%, 42.6% and 22.4% of cases, respectively. In 3.5% was moderate. No significant association between fluorosis and history of dental caries was observed. In Temuco, the prevalence of dental fluorosis in 7-years children is high, with severity of questionable, very mild and mild type in 50% of cases. After 8 years of implementing the fluoridation of drinking water, there was a decrease of dental caries damage but increased dental fluorosis in the population.
KEY WORDS: dental fluorosis, grades of fluorosis, dental caries, drinking water, Dean’s Index.
How to cite this article
OLIVARES-KELLER, D.; ARELLANO-VALERIA, M. J.; CORTÉS, J. & CANTÍN, M. Prevalence and severity of dental fluorosis and its association with history of dental caries in schoolchildren consuming fluoridated drinking water in Temuco, Chile. Int. J. Odontostomat., 7(3):447-454, 2013.
