March 2018 Vol. 6 No.3

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Original Research Article

Dental Fluorosis Prevails among Primary-Schools' Students in Najran City-Saudi Arabia

Nahid Khalil Elfaki^1*, Adil Salim Elsheikh², Ali A. Assiry³ and Dr. Fayruz Alsunbul⁴

¹Assistant Professor of Community Health Nursing, College of Nursing, Najran University, P. O. Box 1988, Najran, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
²Professor, College of Community, Najran University, P. O. Box 1988, Najran, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
³Assistant Professor of Pediatric Dentistry, College of Dentistry, Najran University, P. O. Box 1988, Najran, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
⁴Lab Specialist; MCH- Jeddah

*Corresponding Author’s E-mail: nahid1768@hotmail.com
Tel.: 00966503151008

Accepted March 13, 2018

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and risk factors associated with dental fluorosis among school children in Najran, Saudi Arabia. A multi-stage sample technique was used and 288 girl students from 3 different public primary schools were surveyed and examined for fluorosis. The principal method of data collection was a semi-structured questionnaire beside clinical examination that was guided by Dean's Index. The number of surveyed students with dental fluorosis among the total examined population was 172 (60%) and the most prevailing types were the mild and moderate forms of fluorosis that affect 129 students (44.79%). Statistically, no significant difference was identified among the reported age groups (P-value 0.071), while the fluorosis occurrence was significantly associated with hereditary factors as well as frequency of exposure to toothpastes (fluoride) with P-value 0.001 and 0.012 respectively. Fluorosis was significantly (P<0.05) influenced by family history of fluorosis, drinking water source and abstaining from using fluoride-toothpastes. Dental fluorosis prevails among school children in Najran city and associates with family history of fluorosis, consuming well water and abstaining from using fluoride-toothpastes.

Keywords: Children, Dental fluorosis, Prevalence, Risk factors.