title: Differential diagnosis of dental fluorosis made by undergraduate dental students.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To check knowledge of undergraduate dental students to make diagnosis of dental fluorosis with varying degrees of severity and choose its appropriate treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire addressing knowledge of undergraduates based on ten images of mouths presenting enamel changes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Only three images were correctly diagnosed by most undergraduates; the major difficulty was in establishing dental fluorosis severity degree.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite much information about fluorosis conveyed during the Dentistry training, as defined in the course syllabus, a significant part of the students was not able to differentiate it from other lesions; they did not demonstrate expertise as to defining severity of fluorosis and indications for treatment, and could not make the correct diagnosis of enamel surface changes.
authors.affiliation: Faculdade Meridional, Passo Fundo, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Lilian
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rigo
authors.affiliation: Universidade Regional Integrada do Alto Uruguai e das Missões, Erechim, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Leodinei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lodi
authors.affiliation: Universidade de Passo Fundo, Passo Fundo, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Raíssa Rigo
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Garbin
mesh_terms: D003731:Dental Caries / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control; D003743:Dental Enamel / Q000002:abnormalities*; D003753:Dental Health Surveys / Q000379:methods*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004497:Education, Dental / Q000379:methods*; D004521:Educational Measurement / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005459:Fluorides / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009050:Fluorosis, Dental / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011361:Professional Competence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011634:Public Health; D013335:Students, Dental
chemical_list: D005459:Fluorides