PREVALANCE OF DENTAL CARIES AND DENTAL FLUOROSIS AMONG 18 -22 YEAR OLD ADULTS AND THEIR ASSOCIATION- A HOSPITAL BASED CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY.

Volume : VII, Issue : VI, June - 2018

Thaufiq Ahamed M I, Swamy T P

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to assess the prevalence and association between dental caries and dental

􀃸uorosis among 18 to 22 year-old adults

METHODOLOGY: A total of 500 patients reporting to dental OPD of Karpagam Hospital Coimbatore, out of which 367 males and 133

females were included in this Cross sectional study. Simple random sampling was done from list of patients. The diagnosis of dental caries

was done according to WHO criteria (Decayed Missed Filled Teeth index-DMFT) and Dental 􀃸uorosis was assessed by Dean�s 􀃸uorosis index.

The collected data was analyzed statistically by chi square test using SPSS 16 along with Cross tabulation of variables with those of each

other to 􀃶nd out any clinical relevance.

RESULTS: The overall prevalence of dental caries and 􀃸uorosis was 43.6% and 14% respectively. The mean DMFT score was 1.03 and

statistically signi􀃶cant correlation was found with lesser degree of dental caries in 􀃸ourosis patients

CONCLUSION: This study shows moderate prevalence of dental caries in 18 to 22yr old adults with lesser degree of dental caries in 􀃸ourosis

patients, indicating protective effect of 􀃸uoride for dental caries.