Environmental Disease

ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Year
: 2023  |  Volume : 8  |  Issue : 1  |  Page : 1--6

Prevalence of dental fluorosis and dental caries among people consuming water in urban Vadodara: A cross-sectional study


Sangita Vashrambhai Patel1, Rahul D Khokhariya1, Jagruti Rathod2, Deya G Chatterji1, Jesal Patel3 
1 Department of Community Medicine, Medical College Baroda, Vadodara, Gujarat, India
2 Gujarat Ecological Society, Vadodara, Gujarat, India
3 GCS Medical College, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India

Correspondence Address:
Sangita Vashrambhai Patel
5, Gokul Society, Sindhwaimata Road, Pratapnagar, Baroda - 390 004, Gujarat
India

Introduction: High fluoride concentration in groundwater can result in endemic fluorosis and is a major public health problem in India. Aim: To know the association between prevalence of dental fluorosis and dental caries and fluoride level in the water in urban Vadodara. Methodology: An analytical ecological cross-sectional study was conducted in 4 zones of Vadodara district. Thirty-eight water samples were sent to Gujarat Ecology Society in Vadodara for chemical analysis to test fluoride levels. The data collection was made by house-to-house visit twice during the study involving 2,609 participant interviews. These participants included 449 children belonging to the age group of <15 years. Examination for dental fluorosis and dental caries using Dean's criteria was done. Chi-Square and Mental Hensel Chi-Square were applied for statistical analysis. Results: The prevalence of dental fluorosis was 17.36% in high-fluoride areas and 22.46% in normal-fluoride areas among children (<15 years of age). There was no statistically significant association in dental fluorosis between high-fluoride areas and normal-fluoride areas (P = 0.2533). The prevalence of dental caries was 29.26% in high-fluoride areas and 75.36% in normal-fluoride areas. There was a statistically significant association in dental caries between high-fluoride areas and normal-fluoride areas (P ≤ 0.0001). Conclusions: The risk of dental caries was clearly higher in the areas showing normal-fluoride content compared to places with high fluoride levels in drinking water. The risk of dental fluorosis was higher in area with high-fluoride level but the difference was not statistically significant.


How to cite this article:
Patel SV, Khokhariya RD, Rathod J, Chatterji DG, Patel J. Prevalence of dental fluorosis and dental caries among people consuming water in urban Vadodara: A cross-sectional study.Environ Dis 2023;8:1-6


How to cite this URL:
Patel SV, Khokhariya RD, Rathod J, Chatterji DG, Patel J. Prevalence of dental fluorosis and dental caries among people consuming water in urban Vadodara: A cross-sectional study. Environ Dis [serial online] 2023 [cited 2023 Jun 4 ];8:1-6
Available from: http://www.environmentmed.org/article.asp?issn=2468-5690;year=2023;volume=8;issue=1;spage=1;epage=6;aulast=Patel;type=0