Dental fluorosis in populations from Chiang Mai, Thailand with different fluoride exposures. Paper 1: assessing fluorosis risk, predictors of fluorosis and the potential role of food preparation

Background:
To determine the severity of dental fluorosis in selected populations in Chiang Mai, Thailand with different exposures to fluoride and to explore possible risk indicators for dental fluorosis.
Methods:
Subjects were male and female lifetime residents aged 8-13 years. For each child the fluoride content of drinking and cooking water samples were assessed. Digital images were taken of the maxillary central incisors for later blind scoring for TF index (10% repeat scores). Interview data explored previous cooking and drinking water use, exposure to fluoride, infant feeding patterns and oral hygiene practices.
Results:
Data from 560 subjects were available for analysis (298 M, 262F). A weighted kappa of 0.80 was obtained for repeat photographic scores. The prevalence of fluorosis (…
MedWorm: Dentistry