L. Mabelya et al., COMPARISON OF 2 INDEXES OF DENTAL FLUOROSIS IN LOW, MODERATE AND HIGHFLUOROSIS TANZANIAN POPULATIONS, Community dentistry and oral epidemiology, 22(6), 1994, pp. 415-420
Citations number
22
Categorie Soggetti
Dentistry,Oral Surgery & Medicine","Public, Environmental & Occupation Heath
This study aimed at comparing the Thylstrup-Fejerskov index (TFI) and
the Dean's Index (DI) which were applied on three communities with dif
ferent severity of dental fluorosis. A total of 1565 children aged bet
ween 11 and 18 yr with a mean age of 14.7 were examined for dental flu
orosis with the TFI and 1155 of these children were also examined with
the DI. The measurement error for the TFI was 0.50 (10 scale point) c
ompared to 0.53 for DI (6 scale point). The Kappa values and the measu
rement-remeasurement correlation appeared to be better for the TFI. No
difficulties were encountered in applying the TFI in contrast to the
DI, which caused uncertainties in assessing the ''questionable'' and '
'very mild'' scores, and this may explain the relatively better reprod
ucibility of the TFI. The correspondence between both indices was dete
rmined. TFI 0 corresponded well with DIG. The conversion values for TF
I 1, 2, 3 and 4 into DI scores were 0.3, 0.8, 1.4 and 2.4 respectively
. The TFI 5-9 corresponded with DI score 4. TFI could discriminate the
severe forms of dental fluorosis which were categorized in Dean's hig
hest score 4. TFI was able to reveal more dental fluorosis than DI in
communities with minor and moderate dental fluorosis. In the community
with severe dental fluorosis where more than 85% of all teeth exhibit
ed a DI greater than or equal to 1, both indices revealed a comparable
prevalence of dental fluorosis. The TFI is considered a near ideal in
strument.