EnamelDefects intheDeciduous Dentition asaPotential Predictor ofDefects inthePermanent Dentition of8 and9-year-old Children inFluoridated Cheshire, England

Itisclaimedthatdentalfluorosis inboth deciduous andpermanent teeth isincreasing influoridated andnon-fluoridated communities. Whatisunclear is whether fluoride-induced enamel opacities inthedeciduous dentition areassociated withthesubsequent appearance of enameldefects inthepermanent dentition. Theaimofthis studywastoestablish whetherarelationship existed betweenthepresence ofdiffuse enameldefects onthe deciduous molars andpermanent incisors ofschoolchildren whowerelifetime residents inanoptimally fluoridated community inCheshire, England. Thedentitions ofeight- andnine-year-old children wereexaminedbytwo examiners, eachunawareofthefindings oftheother. There wasasignificant increased risk ofdiffuse enamel defects in thepermanent incisors forthose children whopresented withdiffuse defects ontheir first deciduous molars (Relative Risk, 1.45; 95%confidence interval, 1.05to2.0) orsecond deciduous molars(Relative Risk, 1.86; 95%confidence interval, 1.36to2.54). Inlight ofthese findings, itisworth considering thepotential ofthepresence ofenamel defects indeciduous molars inchildren aged1to3yearsasa predictor ofthefuture appearance ofsimilar lesions intheir permanent incisors.