Fluorosis - Epidemiological and Histological perspectives

Fluorosis is an endemic problem affecting different parts of the country. Fluoride toxicity can be manifested either as dental fluorosis or skeletal fluorosis. As an early sign of dental fluorosis the teeth lose their shiny appearance with development of chalk-white spots. Later these white patches become yellow and sometimes brown or black and in severe cases loss of enamel gives the teeth a corroded appearance. Detailed studies on enamel changes occurring in human dental fluorosis is a must to understand the pathogenic mechanisms of fluoride action on tooth structure resulting in mottling. It is important to characterize histologically all signs of dental fluorosis including the very early manifestations to find the histological signs of dental fluorosis.