Prevalence of dental fluorosis and determining the degree of severity in children aged 6-15 years in the flower production center Valleflor located in the Valley of Tumbaco

Abstract

Dental fluorosis is a developmental disturbance of dental enamel, caused by exposures to high concentrations of fluoride during tooth development, leading to enamel with lower mineral content and porosities. The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of fluorosis and its severity in children of 6-15 years old, children of floriculture workers in Valleflor. For this, 104 children teeth’s were examined using Dean's Index to determine whether or not they presented fluorosis. Statistical analyses were performed and it determined that the prevalence of fluorosis in the study group was 76%. The sectors with predominant presence of fluorosis were Pifo (24%), Yaruquí (21,3%), Puembo (18,70%), Collaquí (14,7%) and El Arenal (12%). The degrees more prevalent were grade 2 (32%), followed by grade 1 (22%), grade 3 (20%), grade 0 (18%), grade 4 (9%) and finally grade 5 with total absence. Also a relationship between the presence of fluorosis and the time of permancence in a sector was determined. With these results it was concluded that in Tumbaco there is a high prevalence of this disorder, which may be due to several factors, including public water consumption. It is anticipated that this prevalence will increase if no action is taken in public health is taken, and if the community is not alerted.