ASSOCIATION BETWEEN DENTAL ENAMEL OPACITIES AND DENTAL-CARIES IN A NORTH WALES POPULATION

This study examined the association between enamel opacities and denta l caries in a population from North Wales with low levels of fluoride in the drinking water. Those subjects with only diffuse (n = 317) type s of opacity had a mean DMFS of 1.6 (+/-3.4) compared with those havin g only demarcated (n = 1,408) opacities of 3.4 (+/-4.3). The group wit h both (n = 317) types of defect present had a DMFS of 2.4 (+/-3.7) an d the group with no defects (n = 1,496) had a DMFS of 2.7 (+/-3.8). Th ese differences were statistically significant (p<0.001). Possible rea sons for these differences are discussed.