Prevalence of Dental Fluorosis in School Children of Wat Boast District Community and Situation of Fluoride Concentration in Public Drinking Water - สภาวะฟันตกกระของเด็กนักเรียนและพฤติกรรมการ บริโภคน้ำของประชาชนตําบลวัดโบสถ์ อําเภอบางปลาม้า จังหวัดสุพรรณบุรี

บทคัดย่อ

          This study aimed to measure the prevalence of dental fluorosis in school children of Wat Boast district community and assess fluoride concentration in public drinking water. Dental examination was done in 74 grade I to grade VI of primary schools children aged 7-12 years residing from birth in the area
using Dean’s fluorosis index. Water samples collected from village tap water, school and public drinking water sources were investigated for fluoride concentration by the Ion Selective Electrode (Orion®) at the Dental Health Bureau’s laboratory. It was found that the prevalence of fluorosis was 47.3% with 65.7% demonstrating mild fluorosis, 34.3% demonstrating moderate to severe fluorosis. Eleven public water samples collected from village pipe system, schools and public wells contained the fluoride concentration of 1.20 – 2.83 mg/L. The study revealed the major source of drinking water include tap water (31.1%), rain water (32.4%) and other sources (23.0%); and water consumption in households include tap water (64.9%), rain water (17.6%) and other sources (6.8%). Prevalence of dental fluorosis in school children was very high due to high fluoride concentration in drinking water. Data from the survey were the crucial evidence to convince the community to set up a long-term dental program for the surveillance for dental fluorosis and the assessment of fluoride content in drinking water.
Key words: fluorosis, fluoride