Fluoride And Caring for Children's Teeth (FACCT): Clinical Fieldwork Protocol.

The reduction in dental caries seen between Irish national surveys of children's oral health in 1984 and 2002 was accompanied by an increase in the prevalence of enamel fluorosis.  To minimise the risk of enamel fluorosis in Irish children, in 2007, the level of fluoride in drinking water was reduced from 0.8-1.

The aesthetic impact of enamel fluorosis on Irish adolescents.

Objectives: To assess the impact of differing degrees of enamel fluorosis on dental aesthetics according to Irish adolescents. The same participants also aesthetically rated other variations in dental appearances including a carious lesion, bleached teeth and a demarcated opacity.

Methods: One hundred and fifty adolescents examined seven identical template photographs of an attractive dental smile displaying varying levels of enamel fluorosis (TF1, TF2, TF3), a demarcated opacity, no fluorosis (TF0), anterior caries and very white or bleached teeth.

Fluoride metabolism and fluorosis.

Objectives: This paper is primarily concerned with the only proven risk associated with water fluoridation: enamel fluorosis. Its purpose is to review current methods of measuring enamel fluorosis, its aetiology and metabolism. A further objective is to identify risk factors to reduce the prevalence of enamel fluorosis and employ methods to manage such risk factors.