[Dental fluorosis: quantification of Streptococcus mutans in school children from Mamiña, Chile. A longitudinal study].
BACKGROUND
High fluorine concentrations in drinking water are associated with a decrease in the amount of salivary S mutants. Taking into account that clinical dental fluorosis can appear with 1.5 ppm of fluorine in the drinking water, fluorine concentrations in Mamiña is 2.4 ppm.


OBJECTIVE
To quantify salivary S mutans in school age children from Mamiña, a zone with a high fluorine content in the drinking water, during one year.


METHODS
During 1997 and 1998, dental health was assessed and salivary samples were obtained from 51 children (27 male) aged 10 +/- 2 years to quantify S mutans.


RESULTS
Most children studied had more than 10(5) salivary S mutans colony forming units. No changes in the rates of infection or dental health characteristics were observed during the observation year.


CONCLUSIONS
High fluorine content in the drinking water did not have an effect on salivary S mutans infection in this population.
Linossier
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Departamento de Patología, Facultad de Odontología, Urgencia Hospital Clínico Universidad de Chile. alinossi@abello.dic.uchile.cl
Carvajal
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Donoso
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Orrego
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D002648:Child; D002677:Chile; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D005260:Female; D009050:Fluorosis, Dental / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009909:Oral Health; D012463:Saliva / Q000382:microbiology*; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification*