The relationship between fluoride concentration in drinking water and dental fluorosis in children aged 6-15 Years

Background: Dental fluorosis occurs due to excess fluoride intake during tooth formation. This excess fluoride intake is usually obtained from fluorine content in water sources, either naturally or added from other sources. Fluorosis that occurs can cause tooth discoloration which is characterized by the presence of brown stains or yellow spots that spread imperfectly on the surface of the teeth so that it interferes with dental aesthetics. Purpose: To determine the relationship between fluorine concentration in drinking water consumed and the occurrence of dental fluorosis in children aged 6-15 years. Methods: This study was conducted by searching for articles within the last 12 years related to the theme on online platforms such as PubMed and Google Scholar. Results: Ten studies were identified. The weaknesses of the study design/behavior were the low response rate and the identification and treatment of confounding factors. The collection of statistical data was imprecise due to substantial heterogeneity, partly due to variations in sample sizes, water fluoridation concentrations, indices used, and target populations. Ten studies presented dental fluorosis at any level. Conclusion: There is an increase in the incidence of dental fluorosis along with an increase in fluorine levels in drinking water. Fluorine levels in good drinking water are 0,6-1 ppm.