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Prevalence and severity of dental fluorosis in Al-Qaseem province--Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

OBJECTIVE
To assess the oral health status, especially prevalence and severity of dental fluorosis among an urban and rural population of Al-Qaseem province.


DESIGN
World Health Organization (WHO) oral health form was used to survey the population.


SETTING
Subjects were surveyed from Urban and rural schools, Government and non-governmental organizations, administrative and training institutes of Buraida city and villages of Ain Al-Juwa and Al-Asiah.


SUBJECTS
Eight hundred male subjects were surveyed in 12, 15, 35-44 and > 65 years age groups. Four hundred urban and four hundred rural subjects were examined. One hundred in each group.


RESULTS
It was found that fluorosis is more prevalent in rural than urban population. 24-67 percent of 12, 15, 34-44 and > 65 years were with dental fluorosis both in urban and rural areas. 12.5 percent of the population examined were with moderate to severe dental fluorosis. Eight percent of the urban and 16.3% of rural population were with moderate to severe dental fluorosis.


CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Rural population have more prevalent and severe dental fluorosis as compared to urban population of Al-Qaseem province. There is a need of preventive oral health programs with community education on their diet and water consumption. There is a need to improve water supplies and defluoridation of water sources in affected areas. Multiple sources of fluoride should be analysed and prevented. From treatment need point of view, there is also a need to meet the increased demand of cosmetic restorations for aesthetic units of dentition.