Degree of Fluorosis, Oral hygiene and Dental caries experience among Out-patients Visiting a Private Dental Hospital in Chennai

INTRODUCTION: The use of fluoride is the only known practical measure for controlling dental caries at the population level. However, the ingestion of fluoride during the development of teeth is associated with an increased risk of development of enamel fluorosis.The association between enamel fluorosis and caries risk has been investigated at different levels of fluoride exposure: population, person and tooth.Notably, the relationship between fluorosis and caries in areas of high water fluoride concentrations is not well described. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to correlate the Degree of fluorosis, Oral hygiene and dental caries experience among out-patients. METHODOLOGY: A Retrospective analysis of all the cases with fluorosis, Oral hygiene and dental caries experience among outpatients was retrieved among the overall data of patients visiting Saveetha Dental College from June 2019-March 2020. The data for 1206 patients with fluorosis was entered in Excel Spreadsheets. And the collected data was analysed using SPSS software version 19. Chi square test was used to statistically evaluate the results. RESULTS: Among 1206 patients 58.7% were Male and 41.3% were female. It was seen that the majority of patients with good oral hygiene status had very mild and mild dental fluorosis. Chi square test was done (pvalue= 0.003), and it was significant. It was seen that the majority of patients with very mild fluorosis had less decay. Chi square test was done (pvalue= 0.003), and it was found to be significant. Hence proving that there is significant association between dental caries experience and different degrees of fluorosis. CONCLUSION: Within the limitations of the current study, oral health status was found to be very poor with the high levels of fluorosis in the present population.