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Related Experiment Videos

Esthetically objectionable fluorosis attributable to water fluoridation.

Susan O Griffin1, Eugenio D Beltrán, Stuart A Lockwood

  • 1Division of Oral Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA. sig1@cdc.gov

Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology
|May 10, 2002
PubMed
Summary

Dental fluorosis risk from water fluoridation is higher when assessed using the entire dentition. Approximately 2% of US schoolchildren may experience aesthetic issues due to current fluoride levels.

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Area of Science:

  • Dental Public Health
  • Epidemiology
  • Fluoride Research

Background:

  • Water fluoridation is a public health measure to prevent dental caries.
  • Dental fluorosis is a potential adverse effect of excessive fluoride intake.
  • Assessing fluorosis prevalence and its attributable risk requires standardized methods.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare fluorosis prevalence and risk estimates using different indices (entire dentition vs. maxillary anterior teeth).
  • To estimate the prevalence of perceived esthetic problems linked to current water fluoridation policies.
  • To calculate the attributable burden of esthetic concerns related to fluoridation.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized data from the National Survey of Oral Health in US School Children (1986-87).

Related Experiment Videos

  • Calculated Dean's fluorosis index and an anterior fluorosis index for 1839 children (12-14 years old).
  • Estimated attributable risk by comparing fluorosis prevalence in optimally fluoridated vs. low-fluoride areas and incorporated data on esthetic satisfaction.

    • Main Results:

    • Fluorosis prevalence (very mild or greater) was 26% with Dean's Index vs. 18% with the anterior index.
    • Attributable risk for very mild and mild fluorosis was higher when using Dean's Index (24% vs. 18% for very mild or greater).
    • Mean risk of perceived esthetic problems was 9% for very mild and 33% for mild fluorosis.

    Conclusions:

    • Approximately 2% of US schoolchildren may have esthetic concerns attributable to current water fluoride levels.
    • Estimates of fluorosis prevalence and attributable risk are higher when using an index for the entire dentition.
    • The risk-benefit analysis of fluoridation should consider esthetic impacts and alternative preventive strategies.