Dental Caries in Patients with Fluorosis among Local Population of Hyderabad

Abstract

Objective: To assess the frequency of dental caries among individuals with dental fluorosis and to examine the relationship between fluorosis severity with the Thystrup-Fejerskov (TF) index and caries experience with the decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMFT) index. Study Design: A cross-sectional, observational study. Place and Duration of the Study: Department of Operative Dentistry and Endodontics, Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences, Jamshoro, Pakistan, from October 2023 to December 2024. Methodology: A convenience sample of 165 participants, aged 10-40 years and living in Hyderabad, was recruited. Participants with a TF score >1 were included. Intra-oral examinations assessed dental caries using the WHO DMFT index and fluorosis using the TF index. Non-parametric methods and logistic regression were employed. Results: Moderate fluorosis predominated (TF scores 3-4: 66%), while severe fluorosis (TF score = 6) was seen in only 2.4% of cases. Dental caries was highly prevalent, with 90.3% of subjects exhibiting DMFT >0. A weak positive association was seen between TF and DMFT scores (r = 0.147, p = 0.059), and significant differences in DMFT across TF groups were noted (χ2 (4) = 19.260, p = 0.001). Logistic regression did not prove an independent association found between fluorosis severity and caries risk after adjusting for confounders. Conclusion: Moderate fluorosis predominated among the participants and dental caries were highly prevalent, with 90.3% of subjects exhibiting DMFT scores greater than zero. There is no association between fluorosis severity and caries risk after adjusting for confounders.