title: Dental fluorosis in an area of Kenya with 2 ppm fluoride in the drinking water.
abstract: We examined 102 children born and reared in an area of rural Kenya with 2 ppm fluoride in the drinking water for dental fluorosis, using the index developed by Thylstrup and Fejerskov (1978). The prevalence of dental fluorosis was 100%, 92% of all teeth exhibited a TFI score of 4 or higher, and 50% of the children had pitting or more severe enamel damage in at least half the teeth present. The fluorotic changes showed a high degree of bilateral symmetry. The intra-oral distribution of the changes corresponded to the pattern of fluoride-induced enamel changes reported by other investigators in high-fluoride areas. The high prevalence and severity of dental fluorosis in a 2-ppm-fluoride area is in accordance with recent observations on dental fluorosis being very prevalent in Kenya, even in low-fluoride areas (less than 1 ppm F). We are presently investigating the possible variables which may explain this unexpected susceptibility of large populations in Eastern Africa to fluorosis from exposure to low levels of fluoride.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Manji
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Baelum
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Fejerskov
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003743:Dental Enamel / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005459:Fluorides / Q000032:analysis*; D009050:Fluorosis, Dental / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007180:Incisor / Q000473:pathology; D007630:Kenya; D008297:Male; D008963:Molar / Q000473:pathology; D014881:Water Supply / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D005459:Fluorides