CLASSIFICATION AND PREVALENCE OF ENAMEL OPACITIES IN THE HUMAN DECIDUOUS AND PERMANENT DENTITIONS

A reproducible classification of enamel opacities which is generally applicable for use in clinical investigations was used to determine the prevalence of defects in both deciduous and permanent dentitions in low-fluoride areas; 303 children aged 6 yr and 1214 children aged 13-14 yr were examined. Almost one third of them had enamel opacities in the deciduous dentition, and over 80 per cent showed defects in the permanent dentition. Horizontal white lines in the enamel of permanent teeth, stated to be pathognomic of fluoride-induced enamel changes, were found in 29 children (2.4 per cent). All the children had lived in areas where the drinking water contained less than 0.26 parts/106 fluoride, and none had received fluoride supplementation. The classification used was not based on a presumed aetiology of enamel opacities and could therefore be used to compare prevalence in fluoride-supplemented and low-fluoride areas. © 1979.