Prevalence of Dental Fluorosis among Primary School Children in Rural Areas of Tiruchengode block, Namakkal District, TN, India

Fluoride analysis is one of the major emerging areas of drinking water quality criterion and the majority of people is forced to consume fluoride contaminated water due to necessity. High fluoride ground water is found in many parts of the developing world, and several millions of people rely on groundwater having concentrations more than the WHO, APHA and BIS guidelines. Estimation of fluoride concentrations in groundwater, identification of sources and monitoring the impact of fluoride on school children was undertaken in different villages of Tiruchengode block, Namakkal district, Tamilnadu. Most of the inhabitants of the study area rely on groundwater for domestic use due to inadequate pipe-borne drinking water supply. A preliminary survey showing that some of the residents in selected villages have mottled teeth motivated the study. A database was created by obtaining information on the impact of fluoride on school children. Four primary schools, in four distinct villages were visited and the students interviewed. The presence and severity of dental fluorosis were recorded. Fluoride concentrations in groundwater of these villages were found to be higher than the prescribed limit of APHA. The overall prevalence of dental fluorosis was found to be 28.28 % in our study samples. Based on the finding of this study dental fluorosis was associated with higher fluoride level in groundwater. On a scale of measurement the people are having 0 to grade III stage of dental fluorosis.