Distribution of Dental Fluorosis in the Southern Zone of Ecuador: An Epidemiological Study
In recent decades, the increase in fluoride exposure has raised the numbers of dental fluorosis in fluoridated and non-fluoridated communities In Ecuador, but the last national epidemiological study on DF was conducted more than a decade ago. The objective of this cross-sectional descriptive study w...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-03-01
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| Series: | Dentistry Journal |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2304-6767/11/3/71 |
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| author | Eleonor María Vélez-León Alberto Albaladejo-Martínez Paulina Ortíz-Ortega Katherine Cuenca-León Ana Armas-Vega María Melo |
| author_facet | Eleonor María Vélez-León Alberto Albaladejo-Martínez Paulina Ortíz-Ortega Katherine Cuenca-León Ana Armas-Vega María Melo |
| author_sort | Eleonor María Vélez-León |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In recent decades, the increase in fluoride exposure has raised the numbers of dental fluorosis in fluoridated and non-fluoridated communities In Ecuador, but the last national epidemiological study on DF was conducted more than a decade ago. The objective of this cross-sectional descriptive study was to determine the prevalence, distribution and severity of dental fluorosis (DF) using the Dean index in 1606 schoolchildren aged 6 to 12 years from urban and rural environments in provinces that make up the Southern Region of Ecuador. Participants met the inclusion criteria which were age, locality, informed consent document and no legal impediment. The results are presented using percentage frequency measures and chi-square associations. The prevalence of dental fluorosis was 50.1% in the areas of Azuay, Cañar and Morona Santiago, with no significant differences (x<sup>2</sup> = 5.83, <i>p</i> = 0.054). The types of DF found most frequently were very mild and mild in all provinces; a moderate degree was more prevalent in Cañar (17%). There was no significant association (<i>p</i> > 0.05) between sex and the presence of dental fluorosis and, with respect to severity, the most frequent degree was moderate at the age of 12 years. The prevalence of dental fluorosis in the area evaluated is high, especially in the light and very light degrees, with a tendency toward moderate levels. It is necessary to carry out studies on the factors that are predisposing to the development of this pathology in the population studied. This research is an update regarding this pathology in Ecuador, so it is concluded that it is necessary to continue developing studies based on the findings obtained, thus contributing to the public health of the country. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T06:41:55Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-81115cd4640e4206abc22ca7d655f8ba |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2304-6767 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T06:41:55Z |
| publishDate | 2023-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Dentistry Journal |
| spelling | doaj.art-81115cd4640e4206abc22ca7d655f8ba2023-11-17T10:32:20ZengMDPI AGDentistry Journal2304-67672023-03-011137110.3390/dj11030071Distribution of Dental Fluorosis in the Southern Zone of Ecuador: An Epidemiological StudyEleonor María Vélez-León0Alberto Albaladejo-Martínez1Paulina Ortíz-Ortega2Katherine Cuenca-León3Ana Armas-Vega4María Melo5Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, SpainDepartment of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, SpainPrivate Consultation, Cuenca 010107, EcuadorSchool of Dentistry, Catholic University of Cuenca, Cuenca 010107, EcuadorLatin American Network of Research on Fluorides and Dental Fluorosis, Cartagena 130009, ColombiaFaculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Department of Stomatology, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, SpainIn recent decades, the increase in fluoride exposure has raised the numbers of dental fluorosis in fluoridated and non-fluoridated communities In Ecuador, but the last national epidemiological study on DF was conducted more than a decade ago. The objective of this cross-sectional descriptive study was to determine the prevalence, distribution and severity of dental fluorosis (DF) using the Dean index in 1606 schoolchildren aged 6 to 12 years from urban and rural environments in provinces that make up the Southern Region of Ecuador. Participants met the inclusion criteria which were age, locality, informed consent document and no legal impediment. The results are presented using percentage frequency measures and chi-square associations. The prevalence of dental fluorosis was 50.1% in the areas of Azuay, Cañar and Morona Santiago, with no significant differences (x<sup>2</sup> = 5.83, <i>p</i> = 0.054). The types of DF found most frequently were very mild and mild in all provinces; a moderate degree was more prevalent in Cañar (17%). There was no significant association (<i>p</i> > 0.05) between sex and the presence of dental fluorosis and, with respect to severity, the most frequent degree was moderate at the age of 12 years. The prevalence of dental fluorosis in the area evaluated is high, especially in the light and very light degrees, with a tendency toward moderate levels. It is necessary to carry out studies on the factors that are predisposing to the development of this pathology in the population studied. This research is an update regarding this pathology in Ecuador, so it is concluded that it is necessary to continue developing studies based on the findings obtained, thus contributing to the public health of the country.https://www.mdpi.com/2304-6767/11/3/71dental fluorosisoral healthfluoridationprevalenceEcuador |
| spellingShingle | Eleonor María Vélez-León Alberto Albaladejo-Martínez Paulina Ortíz-Ortega Katherine Cuenca-León Ana Armas-Vega María Melo Distribution of Dental Fluorosis in the Southern Zone of Ecuador: An Epidemiological Study Dentistry Journal dental fluorosis oral health fluoridation prevalence Ecuador |
| title | Distribution of Dental Fluorosis in the Southern Zone of Ecuador: An Epidemiological Study |
| title_full | Distribution of Dental Fluorosis in the Southern Zone of Ecuador: An Epidemiological Study |
| title_fullStr | Distribution of Dental Fluorosis in the Southern Zone of Ecuador: An Epidemiological Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Distribution of Dental Fluorosis in the Southern Zone of Ecuador: An Epidemiological Study |
| title_short | Distribution of Dental Fluorosis in the Southern Zone of Ecuador: An Epidemiological Study |
| title_sort | distribution of dental fluorosis in the southern zone of ecuador an epidemiological study |
| topic | dental fluorosis oral health fluoridation prevalence Ecuador |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2304-6767/11/3/71 |
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