THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN DEVELOPMENTAL ENAMEL DEFECTS AND CARIES IN POPULATIONS WITH AND WITHOUT FLUORIDE IN THEIR DRINKING-WATER

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to consider the association between developmental enamel defects and dental caries in children fro m areas with different levels of fluoride in their drinking water. Met hods: children (mean age=14.1+/-0.3 years) were examined from areas wi th less than 0.1 ppm (n=267) and 0.7 ppm (n=196) in their drinking wat er. These areas were chosen to contain subjects with a similar social profile. Two types of enamel defect were considered: those consistent with the diagnostic criteria of the Thylstrup Fejerskov (TF) index and demarcated opacities. Dental caries was recorded for surfaces at the level of the dentinal lesion. Results: Subjects with one or more demar cated opacities had more dental caries than those without these opacit ies present. Children with enamel defects scored with the TF index ten ded to have less dental caries than those without these defects presen t. Howe ver, the difference was only statistically significant in the area without fluoride in the drinking water. Conclusions: Developmenta l enamel defects may be useful markers of caries susceptibility, which should be considered in the risk-benefit assessment for use of fluori de. Further studies are required to clarify the relationship between d evelopmental enamel opacities and dental caries and the reasons for an y associations.