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నైరూప్య

Dental Fluorosis Among Schoolchildren in Gozo, Malta

Ethel Vento Zahra, Paula Vassallo

Aims: This study aimed to assess the prevalence of dental fluorosis in 5- and 12-year-old schoolchildren in Gozo (a Maltese Island) and to establish awareness of aesthetic changes associated with dental fluorosis of the upper central incisors in 12 year olds. Methods: All schoolchildren who were 5 (n=270) or 12 (n=339) years old on their last birthday, had lived in Gozo since birth, had six unrestored/non-carious anterior teeth, and were present at school on the day with positive consent forms were examined. Observations were recorded using Thylstrup-Fejerskov (TF) Index (1978). Twelve year-olds were asked about their awareness of marks on upper central incisors. Results: Among the 5 year olds, only 8 (1.8%) had a TF Index score of 1. Among 12 year olds, 48 (14.2%) had a score of TF 1 or more. Analysis of mean TF scores showed differing values by locality (P