ABSTRACT:
Introduction: Dental fluorosis is characterized by hypo mineralization or tooth enamel caused by ingestion of excessive fluoride during enamel formation. Severe fluorosis is characterized by brown discoloration and discrete or confluent pitting; brown stains are widespread and teeth often present a corroded looking appearance. People with fluorosis are relatively resistant to dental caries. Dental fluorosis is mainly caused by increased fluoride consumption in drinking water or other supplements like tablets, gels, gums and some toothpaste. The main objective of the study to assess the dental fluorosis and associated risk factors among adolescence, living in high level fluoride content in drinking water at selected community area. Methodology: Descriptive Research design was used. The setting of the study is selected community area in Dharmapuri district.100 Male and Female adolescents who come under the inclusion criteria, Selected by Convenient sampling technique. Collected data were analyzed by using descriptive statistics.Results and Discussion: In the demographic variables that 41% of the adolescents are between the age group of 12-14 years, 36% of the adolescents are between the age group of 15-16 years, 23% of the adolescents are between the age group of 17-18 years. Regarding gender 49% of male and 51% of female, the presence of dental fluorosis, it shows that out of 100 samples, 20(20%) samples had normal, 31(31%) samples had questionable dental fluorosis, 29(29%) samples had very mild dental fluorosis, 11(11%) samples had mild dental fluorosis, 6(6%) samples had moderate dental fluorosis, 3(3%) samples had severe dental fluorosis.Conclusion: From the findings of the study it is found to be that majority of the adolescence having dental fluorosis and also impacts of dental fluorosis, Active steps must be taken to partially defluoridate the water before distribution to reduce the morbidity associated with dental fluorosis in this society.