Prevalence of Dental Fluorosis and Factors Related to Dental Fluorosis in Primary School Children in Borabue District, Mahasarakharm Province

Abstract

The purposes of this Cross-sectional analytical study were 1) to study the prevalence of dental fluorosis 2) to study the severity of dental fluorosis and 3) to explore the factors related to dental fluorosis in primary school children in Borabue District, Mahasarakharm Province. The samples were 304 students in primary school and their parents. Dental fluorosis examination for children were recorded using Dean’s index. The quality of examination was tested. (Kappa = 0.81 - 0.88). The questionnaire regarding knowledge, perception and behaviors related fluoridation of the parents were used. The reliability of the perception questionnaire was tested. (Cronbachs’ alpha coefficient = 0.77). The quality of knowledge scale was also tested. (KR-20 = 0.70). Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics involving frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, Chi-square and multiple logistic regression.

More than half of the children were female (59.50%). The mean age was 10.77 (S.D. = 1.56). The result of study showed that the prevalence of dental fluorosis was 36.5 percent. Males (48.80 %) had more dental fluorosis than females (28.20 %). The most severity of dental fluorosis was at questionable level (27.60 percent). The upper left central incisor (21) was the most affected (17.10 %). Most parents were female (73.30%). Approximately 72 percent of the parents never knew about dental fluorosis and around 83% had low level of knowledge toward dental fluorosis. The analysis of factors related to dental fluorosis showed that gender and times to brushing teeth were statistically associated with dental fluorosis. Gender was significantly related to dental fluorosis (p-value <0.001). Males were 2.41 time more chance of dental fluorosis than females (AOR = 2.41 95% CI = 1.46 - 3.99). The children who did tooth brushing more twice a day were 4.17 time more chance of dental fluorosis than children who brushed their teeth once or twice a day (p-value <0.001) (AOR = 4.17 95% CI 2.36 - 7.41). Parents should beware of using appropriate amount of fluoridated toothpaste in children and look closely when children brushed their teeth to avoid toothpaste swallowing that may cause of dental fluorosis.