| dc.description.abstract | This mini-thesis presents a systematic review of dental literature with the objective to investigate trends in dental fluorosis during the period 1980 to 2000. A Medline search was carried out for peer-reviewed scientific dental literature published in English from 1 January 1980 to 31 December 2000. From the publications retrieved 54 satisfied the inclusion criteria. The data on fluorosis prevalence were examined in three categories: 0 to s 0.3 ppm F, > 0.3 to :S 0.7 ppm F, and 0.7 to :S 1.4 ppm F. Since there was no significant difference in fluorosis between 1980 to1989 and 1990 to 2000 the whole period was regarded as one entity. The dose response with increasing concentrations of fluoride in water was consistent with the scientific literature. The percentage prevalences of fluorosis for the three fluoride categories were 16.7, 27.4, and 32.2, respectively. There was an increasing trend in dental fluorosis, although not statistically significant, in both fluoridated and non-fluoridated areas over time. The increase in fluoridated areas was 2-fold and that in non-fluoridated areas 16-fold which was consistent with the scientific literature, the prevalence of fluorosis more so in non-fluoridated areas. The fluorosis was mostly in the very mild to mild categories but more moderate and severe fluorosis was observed in all three categories when the data were pooled. Fluorosis increased in the period from 1980 to 2000. There is a shift from very mild to mild to moderate and severe categories. This calls for further investigation, particularly to look for statistical significance and the role of confounding variables. | en_US |
