Associations between dental fluorosis of the permanent and primary dentitions.
OBJECTIVE
Relatively little is known about associations between primary and permanent tooth fluorosis. In this study, associations between dental fluorosis of the permanent and primary dentitions were assessed.


METHODS
Subjects (n = 601) are in the Iowa Fluoride Study, which included fluorosis examinations of the primary and early-erupting permanent dentitions by trained dentist examiners. Relative risks, correlations, and logistic regression assessed associations between permanent tooth fluorosis and primary molar fluorosis.


RESULTS
Ten percent had primary molar fluorosis at age 5; 36% had definitive (mostly mild), 28% questionable, and 36% no permanent incisor fluorosis at age 9. Those with primary molar fluorosis were significantly more likely to have definitive permanent incisor fluorosis (76% vs. 32%), and permanent molar fluorosis (59% vs. 16%). The strong association between primary and permanent tooth fluorosis is independent of level of fluoride intake.


CONCLUSIONS
Detection of primary tooth fluorosis in pre-school children should alert clinicians and parents to the high likelihood of subsequent fluorosis in the permanent dentition.
Levy
Steven M
SM
Department of Preventive and Community Dentistry, University of Iowa College of Dentistry, 328 Dental Science Building, North Iowa City, IA 52242, USA. steven-levy@uiowa.edu
Warren
John J
JJ
Broffitt
Barbara
B
Kanellis
Michael J
MJ
D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019229:Dentition, Permanent; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D005459:Fluorides / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D009050:Fluorosis, Dental / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007180:Incisor; D008297:Male; D008963:Molar; D014094:Tooth, Deciduous
D005459:Fluorides