Fluorosis

Date: 2015-10-07; view: 509.

Enamel defects due to local factors

As well as the possibility of damage to the forming teeth that may be caused by dental injuries, apical infection, pressure on the premaxilla from the use of an oro-tracheal tube may cause damage to the developing primary incisor teeth. Children with a cleft lip and palate often have enamel defects of the maxillary incisors. Sometimes this may be related to surgical treatment rather than the effect of the cleft per se. A permanent tooth showing hypoplasia resulting from injury or inflammation of the precedent deciduous tooth is called Turner's tooth.

Enamel formation is sensitive to chemical agents, such as fluoride. Excessive intake of fluoride, either from naturally occurring sources such as drinking water with fluoride levels over 1-2 ppm, or from over use of fluoride supplements or fluoride toothpastes, can cause enamel mottling. In its mildest form fluorosis appears as an opacity of the enamel. The condition is dose-dependant, with increasing intake of fluoride being associated with more marked opacity, areas of discolouration of the enamel as well as pitting, and more extensive hypoplastic defects.

Clinical types of fluorosis (V.K.Patrikeev, M.I.Groshikov)

- with strokes

- spotted

- chalk-dotted

- erosive

- destructive

H.T. Dean's fluorosis index was developed in 1942 and is currently the most universally accepted classification system. An individual's fluorosis score is based on the most severe form of fluorosis found on two or more teeth.