Abstract

ARRIETA-VERGARA, Katherine M.; GONZALEZ-MARTINEZ, Farith  and  LUNA-RICARDO, Luzmayda. Exploring the risk of dental fluorosis in children at the Universidad of Cartagena's odontology clinics. Rev. salud pública [online]. 2011, vol.13, n.4, pp.672-683. ISSN 0124-0064.

Objective Describing the prevalence of dental fluorosis and its relationship with associated factors in children attending the University of Cartagena's Odontopaediatrics clinics. Methods A cross-sectional study was carried out at the University of Cartagena during 2009; patients were selected by simple random sampling with replacement (SRSWR). A group of 230 children were examined using the Thylstrup and Ferjerskov index and the participants' mothers were surveyed regarding factors associated with dental fluorosis. STATA 10.0 software was used for analysing the information by percentages, assuming 95 % confidence intervals, disparity ratios and logistic retrogression. Results There was 66.5 % dental fluorosis prevalence; 88.3 % of cases were mild and 11.7 % moderate. No severe lesions were observed. The factors explaining the presence of dental fluorosis were: the quantity of salt used in preparing food, the first application of fluorine before age 4, the quantity of toothpaste used when brushing, ingestion of toothpaste during brushing and ingestion of toothpaste different to that at brushing time (p=0.000; x²=48.2). Conclusions The prevalence of fluorosis in the study group was considered to be significantly high, although most cases were very moderate. It can be stated that such alteration was probably influenced by exposure to varied sources of fluoride used in preventing dental caries.

Keywords : Fluorosis; dental; epidemiology; risk factor; fluoride.

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