Impact of Dental Fluorosis, Socioeconomic Status and Self-Perception in Adolescents Exposed to a High Level of Fluoride in Water

Nelly Molina-Frechero, Martina Nevarez-Rascón, Alfredo Nevarez-Rascón, Rogelio González-González, María Esther Irigoyen-Camacho, Leonor Sánchez-Pérez, Sandra López-Verdin and Ronell Bologna-Molina
Additional contact information
Nelly Molina-Frechero: Departamento de Atención a la Salud, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana (UAM) Unidad Xochimilco, Calzada del Hueso 1100, 04900 Ciudad de México, Mexico
Martina Nevarez-Rascón: Facultad de Odontología, Universidad Autónoma de Chihuahua, (UACH), Campus I Av. Universidad s/n, 31000 Chihuahua, Mexico
Alfredo Nevarez-Rascón: Facultad de Odontología, Universidad Autónoma de Chihuahua, (UACH), Campus I Av. Universidad s/n, 31000 Chihuahua, Mexico
Rogelio González-González: Facultad de Odontología, Universidad Juárez del Estado de Durango (UJED), Predio Canoas s/n, 34000 Durango, Mexico
María Esther Irigoyen-Camacho: Departamento de Atención a la Salud, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana (UAM) Unidad Xochimilco, Calzada del Hueso 1100, 04900 Ciudad de México, Mexico
Leonor Sánchez-Pérez: Departamento de Atención a la Salud, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana (UAM) Unidad Xochimilco, Calzada del Hueso 1100, 04900 Ciudad de México, Mexico
Sandra López-Verdin: Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Guadalajara (UdeG), Sierra mojada 950, 44340 Guadalajara Jalisco, Mexico
Ronell Bologna-Molina: Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Anáhuac Norte, Av. Universidad Anáhuac 46, 52786 Estado de Mexico, Mexico

IJERPH, 2017, vol. 14, issue 1, 1-10

Abstract: Objective : To identify adolescents’ self-perception of dental fluorosis from two areas with different socioeconomic levels. Methods : A cross-sectional, descriptive study was conducted with 15-year-old youths by applying a questionnaire designed and validated to assess self-perceptions of dental fluorosis in two areas with different socioeconomic statuses (SESs). Fluorosis was clinically evaluated by applying the Thylstrup and Fejerkov (TF) index on the upper front teeth. Results : A total of 308 adolescents were included in the study. The medium-SES population, which was exposed to 2.5 ppm of fluoride in water, and the low-SES population, which was exposed to 5.1 ppm, presented the following levels of dental fluorosis: TF 2–3 (50%), TF 4–5 (45.6%) and TF 6–7 (4.4%) for medium SES and TF 2–3 (12.3%), TF 4–5 (67.1%) and TF 67 (20.6%) for low SES. A significant association was found between self-perception and dental fluorosis in those with medium and low SESs ( p < 0.05). The multiple regression model found differences between TF levels and self-perception, with a 6–7 TF level for concerns about color (OR = 1.6), smile (OR = 1.2) and appearance (OR = 3.36). Conclusions : Self-perceptions of dental fluorosis affect adolescents such that adolescents with a medium SES have more negative perceptions than those with a low SES. Such perceptions increase as the TF index increases.

Keywords: self-perception; dental fluorosis; Thylstrup and Fejerkov index; adolescents (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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