title: Degree of fluorosis in areas of South Africa with differing levels of fluoride in drinking water.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to study the relationship between degree of fluorosis and varying fluoride concentrations in the drinking water in a relatively dry region in South Africa. A strong positive association was found between drinking water fluoride levels and fluorosis but only up to a level of approximately 2.0 ppm for areas with a high average daily temperature (approximately 79 degrees F). The results indicate that the optimum drinking water fluoride concentration for a region with a high average daily temperature should be less than 1.00 ppm.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Dentistry, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Stellenbosch, Tygerberg, South Africa.
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Louw
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Grobler
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: van W Kotze
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D002327:Cariostatic Agents / Q000032:analysis*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D002980:Climate; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D005459:Fluorides / Q000032:analysis*; D009050:Fluorosis, Dental / Q000145:classification*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015588:Observer Variation; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012424:Rural Population; D012923:Social Class; D013019:South Africa; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013696:Temperature; D014881:Water Supply / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D002327:Cariostatic Agents; D005459:Fluorides