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Asia-Pacific Journal of Public Health
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Article

Developmental Defects of Enamel in Children of Davangere District and Their Relationship to Fluoride Levels in Drinking Water

Gayathri Ramesh, MDS*, Vandana Raghunath, Ram Manohar, and Ramesh Nagarajappa

* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: amug3r{at}yahoo.co.in.


  Abstract
Objective: To assess the prevalence and severity of developmental defects and their relationship to fluoride levels in drinking water. Methods: 739 (406 male and 333 female) schoolchildren aged 13 years formed the study population. We used the ion selective electrode method to estimate the fluoride concentration in drinking water. A modified developmental defects of enamel index was used for recording the developmental defects. The Karl Pearson coefficient for correlation and the chi-square test were used for statistical estimation. Results: The fluoride concentration ranged from 0.64 to 2.64 ppm. The prevalence of developmental defects was 88.5%. The most common type of defect was diffuse opacity in 61.2% of the children. There was a significant positive correlation between the type (r = 0.85; P < .001) and extent (r = 0.92; P < .001) of developmental defects in relation to fluoride levels in drinking water. Conclusion: The observed prevalence demonstrates the need to ascertain factors other than fluoride levels in drinking water that could contribute to its occurrence.

First published on July 22, 2009
Asia-Pacific Journal of Public Health 2009, doi:10.1177/1010539509340912
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