Fluoridated water impact on tooth decay and fluorosis in 17-20-year-olds exposed to fluoride toothpaste.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the impact of water fluoridation on the prevalence and severity of dental caries and fluorosis in individuals aged 17-20 years exposed to fluoride toothpaste. METHODS: The study population consisted of 660 students from public schools, residents of areas supplied with fluoridated water (exposed group) or not (not exposed group). Students from both groups had access to fluoride toothpaste throughout life. A questionnaire about socioeconomic demographic aspects, conditions related to access and exposure to fluoridated water, and habits related to oral health was applied. Dental caries was measured by the DMFT index and dental fluorosis by the TF index. The chi-square test, t test, and subsequently logistic regression were applied for data analysis. RESULTS: Caries experience (DMFT≠0) was significantly higher in students from areas not exposed to fluoridated water, after adjustments to clinical conditions, demographic socioeconomic profile, and hygiene habits. The DMFT mean (±SD) was significantly higher in students from areas not exposed to fluoridated water than exposed (3.83 [±3.28] and 2.48 [±2.71] respectively). The prevalence of very mild/mild and moderate fluorosis was 41.1% and 21% for students either exposed to fluoridated water or not, respectively. CONCLUSION: Exposure to fluoridated water was associated with a lower prevalence and severity of tooth decay, in spite of the use of fluoridated toothpaste. The prevalence of dental fluorosis at all levels was higher in fluoridated areas, however, in both groups, there were few cases with esthetic implications.

Enamel of Premolars whose Predecessors Presented Rupture of the Follicle Bone Crypt from Periapical Infections.

OBJECTIVE: To observe if dental alterations in premolars are associated with the rupture of the follicle bone crypt caused by a periapical lesion in the predecessor molars. STUDY DESIGN: This is a cross-sectional study. Data collection consisted of the analysis of medical records, a socioeconomic questionnaire, and dental clinical examination. Records from patients with a history of a radiographically visible periapical lesion in lower primary molars submitted to pulp therapy or extraction from a university dental clinic were selected. Successor premolars were clinically evaluated for the presence of enamel development defects, shape alterations, and eruption deviations. The descriptive analysis of data was performed, and Fisher's exact tests, linear trend chi-square, and the Student's t-test were applied. RESULTS: Forty-eight permanent teeth were from 36 patients were evaluated in this study, and 20 (41.7%) of the 48 examined premolars showed a radiographic image suggestive of the rupture of the bone crypt. Rupture of the follicle bone crypt was not associated with the occurrence of enamel alterations in premolars (p = 0.418). An association between dental alterations and age over six years at the time of intervention was observed (p = 0.043). CONCLUSION: The presence of enamel alterations of premolars was not associated with the rupture of the follicle bone crypt caused by a periapical lesion in predecessor molars.