Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 3, 2026

Micro-dissection of Enamel Organ from Mandibular Incisor of Rats Exposed to Environmental Toxicants
Published on: March 29, 2018
[Prevalence of dental fluorosis in children between 6 to 15 years old]
María de Lourdes Azpeitia-Valadez1, Manuel Rodríguez-Frausto, Miguel Angel Sánchez-Hernández
1Unidad de Medicina Familiar 53, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, León, Guanajuato.
Background:
dental fluorosis is a defect in the formation of the enamel by high fluoride concentrations during tooth development. It produces hypomineralization of the enamel by increasing the porosity, thus exposing the tooth to decay.
Objective:
to determine the prevalence and severity of fluorosis in children aged 6 to 15 years.
Methods:
a sample of 456 children was evaluated. The diagnosis of fluorosis was made through physical examination and the severity of the damage was described by using a modified version of Dean's scale.
Results:
270 children presented fluorosis (59.2 %). The most affected were children of 8 to 12 years, students of first to fifth year of primary school. The severity was mild and very mild in 90 % of cases. Tooth decay appeared in 55 % of children with fluorosis and in 43 % of children without fluorosis.
Conclusions:
the prevalence of dental fluorosis is rapidly increasing. Tooth decay affected more often children with fluorosis. Assuming that the prevalence of fluorosis is due to excessive fluoride application rather than to environmental exposure is possible.
Related Concept Videos
Teeth
In the bud stage, the tooth germ (an aggregation of cells) starts to form in the developing jawbone. During the cap stage, the tooth germ differentiates into enamel organ, dental papilla, and dental sac, which will later develop into the tooth's enamel, dentin and...
Minerals
Tooth Anatomy
The Crown, Neck, and Root
The visible part of the tooth is referred to as the crown. It's covered by enamel, the hardest substance in the human body. The crown is uniquely shaped for each type of tooth, allowing for different functions such as cutting, tearing, or grinding food.
Prevalence and Incidence
Prevalence indicates the proportion of individuals in a population who have a specific disease or health condition at a...
Development of the Oral Microbiota

