Concentration of urine gluorida and incidence of dental fluorosis among pupils at Sekolah Menengah, Pahang, Darul Makmur

This is a study of the incidence of dental fluorosis and the urine fluoride concentration among school children. About 84 Malay students with the age range of 16 to 17 years from a National Secondary School in the district of Kuala Lipis, Pahang was selected as respondents. The selection was based on the exposure to fluoride in drinking water supply systems. Fifty two respondents were selected from the fluoridated water supply area while 32 others were selected from the non-fluoridated area (comparative group). The objectives of this study were to determine the relationship between urine fluoride concentrations with the incidence of dental fluorosis and to compare the difference in these two variables between the 2 groups of respondents. The urine fluoride concentration was determined using a fluoride-ion specific electrode. Dental fluorosis was examined through a physical examination using the Tooth Surface Index of Fluorosis (TSIF). There was no significant difference in the mean urine fluoride concentration (mg/L) (t=0.186, p=0.853), mean urine fluoride concentration (mg/g creatinine) (t=0.069, p=0.945) and dental fluorisis (TSIF mean score) (t=0.288, p=0.774) between the two groups. There was a significant direct correlation between the urine fluoride concentrations (mg/L) (r= 0.425, p