Well water fluoride, dental fluorosis, and bone fractures in the Guadiana Valley of Mexico

In the Guadiana Valley (the city of Durango and its surroundings in northwe stern Mexico), the drinking water supply comes from underground wells and i s characterized by a high content of fluoride. In this study, a quantitativ e assessment of dental fluorosis was made in the school age (6-12 years) an d adult (13-60 years) population of Guadiana valley through a multistage sa mpling by conglomerates of the population. The Dean index of dental fluoros is was correlated with the fluoride concentration in drinking water. In tho se parts of the valley with fluoride concentrations higher than 12 mg/L, al l the children surveyed exhibited dental fluorosis, and 35% of them had suf fered serious damage to their teeth. A linear correlation between the Dean index of dental fluorosis and the frequency of bone fractures was also obse rved among both children and adults.