Section : Research Article

Published Date : May 02,2013

Lede

Relation between water and salivary fluoride levels among children residing in communities having different naturally occuring water fluoride levels in Andhra Pradesh, India

Abstract

A precise definition of the amount at which fluoride affects both dental caries and dental fluorosis will help to promote more judicious use of fluoride in caries prevention. The aim of this study was to assess the relation between water fluoride level and salivary fluoride level in 12-year old school children residing in various communities having different naturally occuring water fluoride levels in Andhra Pradesh, India. A cross sectional study was carried out among 116 school children from three different communities having 1, 4, and 11 ppm of water fluoride level at Prakasam District, Andhra Pradesh, India. Preliminary data was collected by using a questionnaire, Type–II clinical examination to assess dental caries and dental fluorosis, and paraffin stimulated whole saliva was collected for laboratory analysis of salivary fluoride level. The mean salivary fluoride levels are 7.4  2.25, 3.73  1.17, and 2.83  1.08 mmol for 11, 4, and 1 ppm water fluoride community which are statistically significant ( p  0.000)***. There was significant difference among the severity of dental fluorosis with increase of water fluoride level and no significant difference in prevalence of dental caries. It is concluded that as the salivary fluoride level is directly proportional to water fluoride level, but it has no effect on the prevalence of dental caries.