PERCEPTION OF FLUOROSIS AMONG SCHOOL CHILDREN IN RIO GRANDE DA SERRA – SP AND FACTORS ASSOCIATED. A POPULATION-BASED STUDY

• Main Authors: Adriana Paula Paiato, Paulo Roberto da Silva, Márcia Cristina Lopes, Antonio Carlos Frias, Edgard Michel Crosato
• Format: Article
• Language: Portuguese
• Published: Universidade Estadual do Sudoeste da Bahia 2015-04-01
• Series: Revista Saúde.com
• Subjects: Dental Fluorosis; Oral Health; Epidemiology; Diagnostic Self Evaluation
• Online Access: http://www.uesb.br/revista/rsc/v11/v11n2a05.pdf
• ISSN: 1809-0761; 1809-0761

The objective of this research was to estimate the perception of dental fluorosis in children with 12 years old and associated variables. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 12 year old school children (393) from all of 10 public schools of Rio Grande da Serra town of Sao Paulo district. Only one dental surgeon, previously calibrated (Kappa = 0.84), performed all clinical examinations. A structured questionnaire was answered by the children themselves and also for their parents. The prevalence of dental fluorosis (Dean Index) found was 57%, restricted to the very mild and mild levels, but higher than expected for Brazilian standards. Significant associations between dental fluorosis stains and perception by children or guardians weren’t found. Dental fluorosis in the degree of severity found, had no adverse effect on the health of these children, but warns of the need for constant monitoring of these changes and rational use of fluoride.