AESTHETIC CONCERNS OF CHILDREN AND PARENTS IN RELATION TO DIFFERENT CLASSIFICATIONS OF THE TOOTH SURFACE INDEX OF FLUOROSIS

Increasing prevalence of dental fluorosis for children both from fluor idated and non-fluoridated communities are now well documented. Along with recent studies purporting possible adverse health effects from fl uorides, this proven public health intervention is again being challen ged. This study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of dental f luorosis for children from fluoridated and non-fluoridated areas in Br itish Columbia. In addition, children and parents were provided with a n opportunity to express concerns about the aesthetics of the child's anterior teeth. Children from representative schools in two communitie s were surveyed using the Tooth Surface Index of Fluorosis (TSIF). Que stionnaires were sent home to parents to detail their child's use of v arious fluoride preventive practices and residence histories. Complete d questionnaires were returned and exams were performed on 1131 childr en. Of those examined, 60% had dental fluorosis on at least two tooth surfaces, only 8% had scores ranging from ''2'' to ''6'', and 52% were classified with a score of ''1''. Parental and child ratings on the a esthetics or color of the child's teeth suggests that there are few ch ildren with aesthetic problems in the TSIF category of ''1''. While co ncerns of parents were more common, the actual source of those concern s was not assessed in the questionnaire. Not unexpectedly, children wi th fluorosis on anterior teeth ranging between TSIF scores of ''2'' to ''6'' appear to have increased concerns about tooth color. Data from children with confirmed residence histories from fluoridated communiti es suggest that the occurrence of aesthetic problems in these children is rare.