Fluorose dentária em adolescentes: um estudo epidemiológico em escolas públicas da zona leste de Manaus-AM

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence and severity of dental fluorosis in adolescents aged 12 years in the Eastern Zone of Manaus- AM. This was a cross-sectional, school-based study in a representative sample. Data collection included socioeconomic and demographic characteristics, fluoride exposure, and clinical evaluation for the investigation of dental fluorosis. The index used to record the clinical characteristics of fluorosis was the Thylstrup and Fejerskov (TF) scale, which grades the severity of the lesion on a scale from 0 (normal teeth) to 9 (severe fluorosis). Fluoride exposure was assessed by means of a questionnaire sent to parents/guardians regarding current fluoride exposure and especially before the age of 6 years. Data was collected from April to November 2024. Descriptive analyses (mean and proportion), bivariate analyses, Poisson and logistic regression were performed between sociodemographic variables and fluoride exposure considering the number of teeth with fluorosis and the prevalence of fluorosis (p<0.05), respectively. and sociodemographic variables and fluoride exposure were performed using logistic regression. The analyses were performed using the SPSS program, version 22.0. The prevalence of fluorosis in the study population was 32.4%, with 46.4% and 27.4% in grades (TF) 1 and 2, respectively. The most affected teeth were the first and second premolars. The prevalence of dental fluorosis (OR=3.60, CI 1.43-9.07 p=0.007) as well as the number of teeth affected by this condition (Rate ratio=2.96, CI 1.17-7.50 p=0.022) were associated with the consumption of tap water. The prevalence of dental fluorosis found in the population studied was expressive despite the higher percentage considered of moderate severity and indicates the need for environmental health surveillance measures in relation to fluoride levels in the city's water supply.