Prevalence of Dental Fluorosis and Dental Caries in Relation to Fluoride Levels in Drinking Water among Residents of Coimbatore District, Tamil Nadu, India: A Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND

Fluoride, while protective against dental caries at optimal levels, can cause fluorosis at higher concentrations. Limited data on fluoride levels and related dental health issues in Coimbatore necessitated this study.

AIM: The present study aimed to estimate fluoride concentrations in drinking water and the prevalence of dental caries and fluorosis in Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

Fluoride concentration was assessed in 100 randomly selected drinking water sources across five zones of Coimbatore using the color comparator technique. A total of 933 residents were examined for dental caries (Decayed, Missing, and Filled Teeth (DMFT) index) and fluorosis (Dean's Fluorosis Index).

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Data were analyzed using SPSS version 21.0 (IBM Corp., USA). Descriptive statistics and Spearman's correlation test was used and P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS

Corporation-supplied water was the main drinking source in Coimbatore. The mean fluoride concentration was 0.48 parts per million (ppm). Dental caries prevalence was 65%, while dental fluorosis was observed in 4% of the population.

CONCLUSION

Suboptimal fluoride levels in drinking water may contribute to the high prevalence of dental caries. Water fluoridation is recommended to improve oral health in Coimbatore.