title: The impact of a dental program for maternal and infant health on the prevalence of dental fluorosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study's purpose was to investigate the prevalence of dental fluorosis in children, whose parents had participated in an oral health program when the children were between zero and three years old, residing in a city with fluoridated water.
  
  
  METHODS
  Group 1 consisted of 128 eight- to 12-year-olds whose parents had visited a program on at least five occasions when the children were zero to three years old and received education about tooth-brushing and the proper use of fluoridated toothpaste in this young age group. The prevalence of dental fluorosis in the permanent maxillary incisors, using the Thylstrup-Fejerskov index, in Group 1 was compared to that of an age-matched group of children (n=128) whose parents had not participated in the program (Group 2).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Group 1 mothers reported higher education levels (P<.05). Group 1 children had a significantly lower prevalence (∼42 percent) and severity (P<.05) of dental fluorosis than those in the control group (∼61 percent).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Children whose parents participated in a dental program that included counselling on the proper amount of fluoridated toothpaste when their children were between zero and three years old presented less frequently with dental fluorosis than a control group when examined at eight to 12 years old.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Dental Clinic, in Teresina, Piauí, Brazil. marcoeli-moura@uol.com.br.
authors.forename: Marcoeli Silva
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: de Moura
authors.affiliation: Private practice, in Teresina, Piauí, Brazil.
authors.forename: Mayana Monteiro
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: de Carvalho
authors.affiliation: Private practice, in Teresina, Piauí, Brazil.
authors.forename: Mikaelle Claro Costa
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Dental Clinic, in Teresina, Piauí, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marina de Deus Moura
authors.initials: Mde D
authors.lastname: de Lima
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Dental Clinic, in Teresina, Piauí, Brazil.
authors.forename: Lúcia de Fátima Almeida
authors.initials: Lde F
authors.lastname: de Deus Moura
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Dental Clinic, in Teresina, Piauí, Brazil.
authors.forename: Alexandre Henrique
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: de Melo Simplício
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D002327:Cariostatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D003376:Counseling; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D005457:Fluoridation; D005459:Fluorides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009050:Fluorosis, Dental / Q000145:classification / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006267:Health Education, Dental; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D007180:Incisor / Q000473:pathology; D007182:Income; D008297:Male; D008437:Maxilla; D009035:Mothers / Q000193:education; D009909:Oral Health; D014099:Toothbrushing / Q000379:methods; D014100:Toothpastes / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D002327:Cariostatic Agents; D014100:Toothpastes; D005459:Fluorides