<p>Introduction- Fluorine is a naturally occurring element found in various minerals. It has always been a concern for health care professionals as the deficiency of the element fluoride has been associated with defective enamel formation in teeth and the excess has been associated with skeletal and dental fluorosis.
Aim: To assess the prevalence of dental fluorosis in school going children of Shimoga, Karnataka, India
Materials & Methods- It included 1275 students ranged from 8- 15 years of age of both gender. In all students, demographic data, permanent residential address, information on source of drinking water, aids used for oral hygiene maintenance (fluoridated or nonfluoridated) and fluorosis was recorded using dean’s fluorosis Index.
Results- The present study consisted of 625 boys and 650 girls. The difference was non- significant (P- 0.1). 37% boys and 34% girls had dental fluorosis. The difference was non- significant (P- 1). Dental fluorosis was seen in 40 boys and 35 girls in age group 8-9 years, 70 boys and 55 girls in age group 10-11 years, 55 boys and 67 girls in age group 12-13 years and 45 boys and 55 girls in age group 14-15 years. The difference was significant (P<0.05). Graph II shows that questionable grade consisted of 35 boys and 37 girls, very mild had 40 boys and 45 girls, mild had 50 boys and 55 girls, moderate had 45 boys and 42 girls and severe had 30 boys and 43 girls. The difference was significant (P<0.05).
Conclusion- Dental fluorosis in common in school children in age range 10-11 years of age. Girls were more commonly involved as compared to boys. Water fluoridation above 1.2ppm was cause of dental fluorosis.
Key words- Children, Dental fluorosis, Dean’s fluorosis Index </p>
<p>Corresponding author: Dr. Prashant Babaji, Professor, Department of Pedodontics, Sharavathi Dental College, Shimoga, Karnataka, India<br>
This article may be cited as: Babaji P. Prevalence of Dental Fluorosis in School Children of Age Ranged 8- 15 Years. Int J Res Health Allied Sci 2017;3(5):78-80.</p>