Awareness on Dental Fluorosis among School Leaving Children in an Endemic Fluoride Area of South East Indian State

Introduction:Dental fluorosis is a well known developmental enamel defect due to excessive fluoride ingestion during enamel formation, generally from chronic long term exposure to elevated levels of fluoride.Material and Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted among 920 school leaving children. After taking informed consent from their parents and legal representatives, an interview was conducted using a structured questionnaire to collect the data regarding demographic details and awareness of dental fluorosis.RESULTS:Study revealed that 77.3% of the study population were having fluorosis.Awareness of dental fluorosis marks on their teeth according to private and government schools, in which 37.3% and 47.1% of government and private school children are aware of marks on teeth and difference observed was statistically significant (X² =8.245;P=0.004).Conclusion:Even though the prevalence of dental fluorosis is high, most of them are unaware of fluorosis stains on their teeth.