DENTAL FLUOROSIS AND PERIODONTAL DISEASE: AN OVERVIEW

Aim: The aim of this review is to discuss various effects of fluoride on hard and soft tissues of the periodontium and its importance in human life. Background : Fluoride is an essential element for life and is one of the trace elements normally present in the body. It is abundant in the environment and the main source of fluoride to humans is drinking water. Fluoride gets accumulated in hard tissues of the body and has been known to play an important role in mineralization of bone and teeth. The behaviourof fluoride ions in the human organism can be regarded as that of double-edged sword. In small amounts, it is known to have beneficial effects on dental health. On the other hand, excessive chronic intakes can result in adverse effects including the development of dental fluorosis in children and/or skeletal fluorosis in both children and adults. Although effect of fluoride on caries has been discussed in painstaking details through various studies but the effect of fluorosis on the periodontium yet remains in shadow. Review Results : Dental fluorosis is a developmental disturbance of dental enamel, caused by successive exposures to high concentrations of fluoride during tooth development, leading to enamel with lower mineral content and increased porosity. Even after continuing with the age old logic of structural changes that take place in mottled enamel it can be said with scientific plausibility that this factor of surface roughness can or must influence some of the variables in this multifactorial disease of periodontitis. This surface roughness is conducive for the bacteria to survive as well as make it difficult for scaling and root planing in fluorosed teeth. This could also jeopardize the effectiveness of the regular oral hygiene procedures. Conclusion : Dental fluorosis is not only a cosmetic problem that impairs social well-being but also affects the oral health related quality of life. Fluorosis continues to be an important problem, both for the affected individuals and for public health. More and more areas are being discovered regularly that are affected by fluorosis in different parts of the country. But ultimate solution for this fluoride menace remains to be the principal of Precaution is better than cure. Clinical Significance : Considering the role of fluorosis on hard and soft tissues and all the risk factors of periodontitis, fluorosis can be recommended strongly as an environmental risk factor for periodontitis. To be defined as one of the etiological (environmental) agent of periodontal disease requires further research studies with greater sample size from varying areas globally.