Dental fluorosis frequency and its association with the socio-economic level at a rural area in Cotopaxi province, Ecuador

Abstract

Objective: To determine dental fluorosis frequency by using the DEAN and TF Indexes on 4- and 15-years old children, and its correlation with the socioeconomic level reported by their parents. Methods: A descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study were proposed and applied to a 115 students (4-15 years old) sample, enrolled in an educational institution located in Pujilí, Cotopaxi, Ecuador. After fulfilling the inclusion criteria, underwent a clinical assessment of their four permanent incisors, registered by photographic examination using the DEAN and Thylstrup and Fejerskov (TF) Indexes, to detect the presence of dental fluorosis. Having the children's legal representatives filled out the INEC socio-economic survey, the collected data were analyzed through the statistical package SPSS v24. Results: Results showed the presence of fluorosis in low or moderate rates according to DEAN and 2 in TF without any difference in the fidelity detection between the two indexes; and no economic factor influence on the fluorosis causes was detected. Conclusions: There was not difference between the indexes used in the detection of fluorosis, with moderate rates found; the economic factor was not relevant.