CARIES EXPERIENCE AND FLUOROSIS PREVALENCE IN CHILEAN CHILDREN FROM DIFFERENT SOCIOECONOMIC-STATUS

Caries experience and enamel fluorosis prevalence in 8-year-old childr en belonging to different socio-economic classes were determined in tw o Chilean twin cities that are served by optimally fluoridated communi ty water from the same waterworks facility. Low socio-economic status (LSES) children had a higher mean dmft and DMFT indices (P<0.001) than high socioeconomic status (HSES) children. Prevalence of enamel fluor osis in the permanent teeth of LSES children was 0.79, significantly h igher (chi(2) = 9.0; P<0.003) than the value 0.59 found in HSES childr en. The proportion of Dean's scores 2, 3, 4 and 5 in first molars, man dibular and maxillary incisors in LSES children was higher than in HSE S children (P<0.001). Differences in prevalence and severity of enamel fluorosis between both groups are tentatively attributed to a differe nt pattern of tap water and tea consumption at pre-school ages. Sugges tions are advanced to minimize the undesirable prevalence and severity of enamel fluorosis.