Periodontal Status of Children with Dental Fluorosis in Juja, Kenya

Abstract

The objective was to determine the periodontal status of children with dental fluorosis. This was done through a descriptive cross sectional study with the aim of determining the periodontal status of children aged with dental fluorosis from a rural area in Kenya. The area was purposively selected as ground water was major source of domestic water. Simple random sampling technique was used to select the school. Statistical tests done included chi-square test, odds ratio to determine the association of periodontal status of children with fluorosis and those without. Results showed that of 225 children who were included in the study of these 125 were males and 100 were females with a mean age of 13.28 ±1.1 standard deviation. Dental fluorosis was present in 114 (50.7%) of the study population as measured by Thylstrup and fejerskov Index (TFI). 51.9% scored TFI score 0, while 41.4% scored TFI score 1-4 and 8.7% scored TFI score > 5. The fluoride level in the surface water was 0.2 ppm and 3.6 ppm in the borehole water. The distribution of Community Periodontal Index (CPI) scores among the children showed that CPI score 0 (healthy) CPI Score 1 (gingivitis) and CPI scores 2 (gingivitis + calculus) were present in 24.4%, 51.6% and 24% respectively. In conclusion children with fluorosis had a higher prevalence of gingivitis and there was a statistical significant difference in the occurrence of gingivitis in all sextant except the lower anterior when the teeth with fluorosis and those without fluorosis were compared. The more severe the level of fluorosis the higher was the risk of gingivitis.