Prevalence of dental fluorosis in four selected schools from different areas in Sri Lanka.

The prevalence of dental fluorosis in four selected schools from different areas in Sri Lanka was investigated by dental examination of 377 school children aged 14 years. In the endemic zone the prevalence of dental fluorosis was 51 to 78% while in a non-endemic area it was 5.4%. There were no significant sex differences in the prevalence of fluorosis. Attention is drawn to the need for using non-fluoridated tooth-paste in areas where dental fluorosis is common. The problem could be further aggravated in the future by the use of water from tube wells in these areas which are known to contain higher concentrations of fluoride than those from shallow wells.