Relationship of Dental Caries and Fluorosis to Fluoride Supplement History in a Non-Fluoridated Sample of Schoolchildren

A random sample of 206 Michigan children, aged from 9 to 13, were examined for fluorosis from a larger group of 2038 children participating in a dental project. Clinical examinations included caries data (DMFS) and assessment of fluorosis by use of the Tooth Surface Index of Fluorosis (TSIF). Separate examiners were used for each index. The response rate of a questionnaire mailed to parents to gather information on residence histories, use of fluoride supplements, and antibiotics was 78%. The prevalence of fluorosis was about 20% among the respondents. Of the 4868 tooth surfaces examined, 9.2% were affected by fluorosis. In all cases, dental fluorosis was judged as mild, with most occurrences on the posterior teeth. No instances of moderate or severe fluorosis were found. The caries experience of respondents was 1.69 ± 2.73 DMFS. Caries experience does not appear to be significantly related to income, education, or fluoride supplement use. Approximately 52% of respondents were reported to have taken fluoride supplements with various degrees of consistency. Parents' education was positively related to both prevalence of fluorosis (odds ratio = 2.2) and use of fluoride supplements (odds ratio = 2.7). No significant relation was revealed with evidence of fluorosis and use of supplements. This study shows a relatively mild level of dental fluorosis in a sample of children from a non-fluoridated area. Dental fluorosis in this group does not appear to be related to use of fluoride supplements or differences in caries experience.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/66503/2/10.1177_08959374890030021501.pd

Prevalence of Total Tooth Loss, Dental Caries, and Periodontal Disease in Mexican-American Adults: Results from the Southwestern HHANES

The Southwestern portion of the Hispanic Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (HHANES) was conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) in 1982 and 1983. The survey population was Mexican-Americans residing in five Southwestern states. This report presents data on the prevalence of total tooth loss, dental caries, and periodontal diseases in 3860 Mexican-American adults aged from 18 to 74. Results show that 4.3% of this group was edentulous. Among the dentate, Mexican-Americans had lower overall DMF scores but higher numbers of untreated decayed teeth than did residents of the same region seen in the NHANES I survey in 1971-1974. Caries of the smooth surfaces in both posterior and anterior teeth was more pronounced in the older than in the younger age groups. Mexican-Americans had more gingivitis but fewer periodontal pockets than did the general population in the Western states during NHANES 1. The caries pattern in the Mexican-Americans suggests that caries among adults may remain a problem in the future, with the possibility of increased involvement with the aging, although modest, of smooth tooth surfaces.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/68143/2/10.1177_00220345870660061801.pd

Food Cariogenicity in Americans Aged from 9 to 29 Years Assessed in a National Cross-sectional Survey, 1971-74

The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between the probability of having high DMFT scores and reported consumption of eight food groups. The sample included Americans (aged from 9 to 29 years) examined during the first National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted between 1971 and 1974. Analysis was restricted to comparing those individuals having DMFT scores equal to or above the 80th percentile of the DMFT distribution with those having scores equal to or below the 20th percentile of the distribution. The strongest discriminator between the low- and high-DMFT groups was the between-meal consumption of table sugars and syrups. The between-meal consumption of sugary desserts was also significantly associated with high DMFT scores. Foods to which table sugars are usually added before consumption, such as coffee, chocolate, and tea drinks, were associated with high DMFT scores in the bivariate analysis. When the same-day consumption of table sugars and syrups was accounted for, the associations became nonsignificant. The reported consumption of breakfast cereals, bread, fruit juices, ice cream, and nuts and crackers was not associated with high DMFT scores, perhaps because they were consumed only infrequently.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/67902/2/10.1177_00220345860650121201.pd