Prevalence of Dental Fluorosis and Its Association With Body Mass Index Among School-Age Children in Hail, Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study

Dental fluorosis, characterized by enamel hypomineralization due to excessive fluoride ingestion during the tooth development stage, remains a critical public health challenge in regions where groundwater contains high natural fluoride concentrations. A cross-sectional analysis was carried out including 524 schoolchildren aged 9-12 years in Hail, Saudi Arabia. The findings demonstrated a substantial prevalence of dental fluorosis, with a highly significant difference observed between primary and permanent dentitions and BMI categories (p < 0.0001). However, statistical analysis revealed no significant association between fluorosis occurrence and gender, whether considered overall or within specific dentition types. These results suggest that while dentition type and BMI are strong predictors of fluorosis prevalence, gender may not be the primary determinant in this population. The study emphasizes the necessity for integrated public health strategies that address environmental fluoride exposure in high-fluoride areas.