title: Prevalence of dental caries and co-relation with fluorosis in low and high fluoride areas.
abstract: The aim of the study was to determine the degree of caries prevalence in the permanent dentition and the accompanying fluorosis in children between 6-16 years of age in both low (0.5 ppm) and relatively high (1.2 ppm) fluoride areas. In 3605 children in a low fluoride area (Dharwad), the mean DMFT was 0.65; 77% of the children were caries free. Grade I fluorosis (using Dean's fluorosis inded) was observed in only 0.66% of the children. Among 3618 children of similar age groups, living in high fluoride areas (Gadag), 84% were caries free and the mean DMFT value was 0.39. Varying degrees of fluorosis were present in 57.07% of the children. The results of the study suggest a definite relationship between the amounts of fluoride ingested through water and caries experience observed in the population.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, SDM College of Dental Sciences, Dharwad.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Menon
authors.forename: K R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Indushekar
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D004245:DMF Index; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005459:Fluorides / Q000032:analysis; D009050:Fluorosis, Dental / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012494:Sampling Studies; D014881:Water Supply / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D005459:Fluorides