Original Paper

Prevalence of Dental Fluorosis in German Schoolchildren in Areas with Different Preventive Programmes
A. Momeni^a, A. Neuhäuser^a, N. Renner^a, M. Heinzel-Gutenbrunner^a, J. Abou-Fidah^a, K. Rasch^b, M. Kröplin^c, O. Fejerskov^d, K. Pieper<sup>a

a</sup>Department of Paediatric and Community Dentistry, Philipps University, Marburg,
^bDepartment of Public Health, School Dental Service, Göttingen, and
^cDepartment of Public Health, School Dental Service, Heiligenstadt, Germany;
^dFaculty of Health Science, Institute of Anatomy, University of Aarhus, Aarhus, Denmark

Address of Corresponding Author

Caries Res 2007;41:437-444 (DOI: 10.1159/000107929)

  Key Words

• Adolescents
• Enamel fluorosis
• Fluoride gel
• Fluoride supplements
• Germany
• Thylstrup-Fejerskov index

  Abstract

In a retrospective study in two different regions of Germany, 1,041 fifteen-year-old pupils were examined for dental fluorosis. The adolescents had taken part in different caries prevention programmes. There were 746 subjects in the study group and 295 subjects in the control group. For each participant, specific aspects of early development, diet and fluoride exposure in group prevention programmes and at home were determined by means of questionnaires. The Thylstrup-Fejerskov index was used to classify the fluorosis scores on the buccal surfaces of teeth 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16 after compressed air drying of the teeth. Binary logistic stepwise regression analyses were conducted to identify associations between fluorosis and potential influence factors. A distinction was made between early and late developing tooth parts. The significance level was set at = 0.05. Fluorosis prevalence in the regions studied was 7.1 and 11.3%, respectively. The difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.052; chi square). Binary logistic stepwise regression analysis revealed that 'early start of toothbrushing' was a statistically significant predictor of dental fluorosis in the early-mineralizing enamel (OR = 1.99, p = 0.027). For the late-mineralizing enamel no single independent variable was identified as a significant predictor of dental fluorosis.

Copyright © 2007 S. Karger AG, Basel

  Author Contacts

Prof. Klaus Pieper
Department of Paediatric and Community Dentistry
Philipps University Marburg, Georg-Voigt-Strasse 3
DE-35033 Marburg (Germany)
Tel. +49 6421 286 6690, Fax +49 6421 286 6691, E-Mail pieper@med.uni-marburg.de

  Article Information

Received: May 19, 2006
Accepted after revision: March 9, 2007
Published online: September 7, 2007
Number of Print Pages : 8
Number of Figures : 0, Number of Tables : 5, Number of References : 39