Dental Fluorosis

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Dental Fluorosis
Introduction
Fluorosis is a dental cosmetic condition that affects the teeth. It is the permanent staining of the teeth which is a reaction to the intake of high levels of fluoride. This condition is caused by prolonged exposure to fluoride in the early childhood stages. It mostly occurs in people between 1 and 8 years of age since it is in this age bracket, that formation of permanent teeth takes place. When teeth are excessively exposed to this mineral, the normal process of tooth mineral formation is disrupted which causes a reduction in the level of mineral content, also known as hypomineralization. The risk of this condition is lower when the teeth have fully erupted.
In most cases, after teeth are shed, some of those that were previously affected by fluorosis appears to be slightly discolored. They are characterized by the presence of a lacy-white color and in other cases teeth may have yellow stains or pits. Fluorosis has been in existence since the 20th century, or before. Researchers in this field were drawn to it by the stained teeth o the inhabitants of Colorado Springs which was caused by exposure to fluoride. What is more is that people with this condition were resistant to dental cavities which is the reason why fluoride treatment was introduced into water treatment. This condition is present in every four American citizen aged 6-49 but prevalent in teenagers between 12-15 years. Despite this condition not being a severe disease, it has some major psychological issues on those affected.

What worsens this is the fact that the condition is difficult to treat.
Causes of dental fluorosis
Fluorosis not only affects the present tooth but also the developing one when it takes up fluoride during its formation in the jaw. This alters the tooth’s chemical structure which causes a striking white color. The first cause is a high level of fluoride in drinking water. To begin with, fluoride is a naturally occurring element in water and an increase in the levels can cause severe fluorosis. Another major cause of this condition is the continuous use of fluoride in dental products like toothpaste and mouthwash, especially swallowing instead of spitting. Another cause, as explained by Wong et al. (2011) is the exposure to supplements containing fluorides in young children.
Symptoms
There are a variety of symptoms that are associated with fluorosis lie presence of white specks in teeth or dark brown streaks that do not fade off. The teeth that are affected by this condition are usually smooth and glossy, sometimes having the color of creamy white. For normal teeth, the teeth are generally somehow translucent.
The severity of fluorosis also varies, and these are categorized differently. The categories include:
Uncertain where the enamel has minor changes like a few white specks and white spots.
Very minor. The specks appearing on teeth have covered less that 25% of the tooth. Additionally, the staining is usually bilateral such that the same tooth on every side have the same pattern of discoloration
Mild. 50% of the tooth is covered in white specks and are more extensive.
Restrained. The streaks have covered over 50% of the tooth surface.
Severe. The whole tooth enamel is affected, and the tooth may have pits. This is because most of the tooth is under-mineralized hence it becomes fragile therefore is easy to get damaged by simple processes like chewing.
Treatment
Mild and uncertain fluorosis is very hard to treat and is usually dismissed as some may appear at the back of the teeth where they are hardly noticeable. For the severe cases, a number of procedures have been formulated to mend the condition. Tooth whitening is the most common corrective process which entails removal of the stains appearing on the tooth surface. Another technique used is bonding which is a process of coating the affected areas with a hard resin which connects the enamel. This correction is best suitable for conditions that are not in excess since the composite connects directly with the tooth enamel. Also, installation of dental veneers helps in correcting the condition. Veneers are custom made shells which cover the front teeth to enhance their form. These are mostly used in cases where people suffer severe fluorosis. Installation of dental crowns is also an option for the severe fluorosis cases. Unlike dental veneers and bonding, this option does not require tooth enamel. It also works well where the structure of the tooth has been severely destroyed and requires strengthening.
Prevention
One of the key prevention strategies is vigilance from parents. We see that the primary and most prevalent cause of fluorosis is when children swallow toothpaste. Children do not entirely swallow toothpaste hence the ingestion increases the amount of fluoride in the body. To prevent this, children should be given clear instructions on how to brush their teeth, spit toothpaste and rinse afterward. Also, the greatest risk lies in the amount of product rather than the fluoride concentration. Therefore, parents should take the responsibility of dispensing toothpaste for the kids (Abanto 1).
In other cases, parents have the option of buying fluoridated toothpaste for children below 2 years. They can also consult dentists on the best product to buy. If not, the toothpaste should be kept away from children since some like the taste and may end up eating the whole tube. The parents should also be aware of the amount of fluorine in the drinking water to prevent the amount of consumption for kids. If the level is too high, it is advisable to buy bottled water, and when it is too low, the parent should consult the dentist on the appropriate supplement.
Conclusion
Fluorosis is a tooth condition that affects the enamel due to high ingestion of fluorine. Fluorine is an essential mineral in the body, but a slight increase in its concentration can cause fluorosis. The condition can cause severe psychological effects when one has to alter their natural smile. The condition is prevalent in children since they are most likely to ingest fluorine from toothpaste in the early stages of tooth formation. High levels of fluoride in drinking water can also cause this condition. The teeth of those affected are characterized by white color, brown streaks or translucent teeth depending on the severity level of the condition. However, there are techniques that correct the condition of crowning, dental veneers, bonding, tooth whitening and crowning. Moreover, this condition can be prevented in children through parental vigilance through assessment of the amount of chlorine the child takes. Also, children should be trained and monitored when on brushing their teeth so that they do not swallow chlorine.
Works Cited
Abanto Alvarez, Jenny, et al. “Dental fluorosis: exposure, prevention, and management.” (2009).
Wong, May, et al. “Cochrane review: Topical fluoride as a cause of dental fluorosis in children.” Evidence‐Based Child Health: A Cochrane Review Journal 6.2 (2011): 388-439.