Abstract
Dental fluorosis (DF) affects the appearance and structure of tooth enamel and can occur following ingestion of excess fluoride during critical periods of amelogenesis. This tooth malformation may, depending on its severity, influence enamel and dentin microhardness and dentin mineralization. Poor correlation between tooth fluoride (F) concentration and DF severity was shown in some studies, but even when a correlation was present, tooth fluoride concentration explained very little of DF severity. This fact calls into question the generally accepted hypothesis that the main factor responsible for DF severity is tooth fluoride concentration. It has been shown previously that genetic factors (susceptibility to DF) play an important role in DF severity although DF severity relates to individual susceptibility to fluoride exposure (genetics), tooth fluoride concentration relates to fluoride ingestion (environmental). The objective of this study was to investigate the correlation between tooth fluoride concentration, DF severity, and tooth mechanical and materials properties. Three strains of mice (previously shown to have different susceptibility to DF) at weaning were treated with four different levels of F in their water (0, 25, 50, and 100 ppm) for 6 weeks. Mice teeth were tested for fluoride by instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA), DF severity determined by quantitative light-induced fluorescence [QLF], and tooth quality (enamel and dentin microhardness and dentin mineralization). Tooth fluoride concentration (environment factor) correlated positively with DF severity (QLF) (rs = 0.608), fluoride treatment group (rs = 0.952). However, tooth fluoride concentration correlated negatively with enamel microhardness (rs = −0.587), dentin microhardness (rs = −0.268) and dentin mineralization (rs = −0.245). Dental fluorosis (genetic factor) severity (QLF) correlated positively with fluoride treatment (rs = 0.608) and tooth fluoride concentration (rs = 0.583). DF severity correlated negatively with enamel microhardness (rs = −0.564) and dentin microhardness (rs = −0.356). Genetic factors (DF severity) and the environmental factor (fluoride concentration in tooth structure) have similar influence on tooth biomechanical properties, whereas only the environmental factor has an influence on tooth material property (mineralization).
Similar content being viewed by others
References
PK DenBesten (1994) ArticleTitleDental fluorosis: its use as a biomarker Adv Dent Res 8 105–110 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:ByqD1crms1U%3D Occurrence Handle7993553
JJ Murray AJ Rugg-Gunn GN Jenkins (1991) Epidemiology and measurement of dental fluorosis. Fluoride in caries prevention Wright Oxford 222–261
T Aoba (1997) ArticleTitleThe effect of fluoride on apatite structure and growth Crit Rev Oral Biol Med 8 136–153 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK2sXjvFyqu70%3D Occurrence Handle9167089
O Fejerskov MJ Larsen A Richards V Baelum (1994) ArticleTitleDental tissue effects of fluoride Adv Dent Res 8 15–31 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:ByqD1crms1E%3D Occurrence Handle7993557
O Fejerskov F Manji V Baelum (1990) ArticleTitleThe nature and mechanisms of dental fluorosis in man J Dent Res Spec 69 692–700
T Yanagisawa S Takuma O Fejerskov (1989) ArticleTitleUltrastructure and composition of enamel in human dental fluorosis Adv Dent Res 3 203–210 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:By%2BA38bhtlU%3D Occurrence Handle2640431
A Thylstrup O Fejerskov (1978) ArticleTitleClinical appearance of dental fluorosis in permanent teeth in relation to histologic changes Commun Dent Oral Epidemiol 6 315–328 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:CSaD1crgtl0%3D
HT Dean (1934) ArticleTitleClassification of mottled enamel diagnosis J Am Dent Assoc 21 1421
PK DenBesten MA Crenshaw (1987) ArticleTitleStudies on the changes in developing enamel caused by ingestion of high levels of fluoride in the rat Adv Dent Res 1 176–180 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:BiaD2M%2FkslY%3D Occurrence Handle3504167
PK DenBesten MA Crenshaw MH Wilson (1985) ArticleTitleChanges in the fluoride-induced modulation of maturation stage ameloblasts of rats J Dent Res 64 1365–l370 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaL28Xmt1Smtg%3D%3D Occurrence Handle2416791
PK DenBesten LM Heffernan JD Featherstone CP Shields (1992) ArticleTitleFluoride binding by matrix proteins in rat mineralizing tissue Arch Oral Biol 37 459–462 Occurrence Handle10.1016/0003-9969(92)90100-M Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK38Xlt1CntL8%3D Occurrence Handle1637261
PK DenBesten H Thariani (1992) ArticleTitleBiological mechanisms of fluorosis and level and timing of systemic exposure to fluoride with respect to fluorosis J Dent Res 71 1238–1243 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:By2B1MbnsVM%3D Occurrence Handle1607440
PK DenBesten (1999) ArticleTitleMechanism and timing of fluoride effects on developing enamel J Public Health Dent 59 247–251 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD3c7ks12isA%3D%3D Occurrence Handle10682331
B Angmar-Mansson E Jong F Sundstrom J Bosch (1994) ArticleTitleStrategies for improving the assessment of dental fluorosis: focus on optical techniques Adv Dent Res 8 75–79 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:ByqD1crmslU%3D Occurrence Handle7993563
DC Clark (1994) ArticleTitleTrends in prevalence of dental fluorosis in North America Community Dent Oral Epidemiol 22 148–152 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:ByuA2cbntlE%3D Occurrence Handle8070241
AK Mascarenhas (2000) ArticleTitleRisk factors for dental fluorosis: a review of the recent literature Pediatr Dent 22 269–277 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD3M%2FlslWmug%3D%3D Occurrence Handle10969430
DG Pendrys (2000) ArticleTitleRisk of enamel fluorosis in nonfluoridated and optimally fluoridated populations: considerations for the dental professional J Am Dent Assoc 131 746–755 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD3czpslSjtg%3D%3D Occurrence Handle10860326
T Olsen E Johansen (1978) ArticleTitleFluoride content of human fluorosed enamel J Dent Res 57 281
A Richards O Fejerskov V Baelum (1989) ArticleTitleEnamel fluoride in relation to severity of human dental fluorosis Adv Dent Res 3 147–153 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:By%2BA38bht1c%3D Occurrence Handle2640425
A Richards S Likimani V Baelum O Fejerskov (1992) ArticleTitleFluoride concentrations in unerupted fluorotic human enamel Caries Res 26 328–332 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK3sXhs1Kntbk%3D Occurrence Handle1468095
APGF Vieira R Hancock R Maia H Limeback MD Grynpas (2004) ArticleTitleIs fluoride concentration in dentin and enamel a good indicator of dental fluorosis? J Den Res 83 76–80 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2cXht1ens70%3D
National Research Council. Health effects of ingested fluoride. National Research Council. 1993. National Academy Press, USA
AL Russell (1962) ArticleTitleDental fluorosis in Grand Rapids during the seventeenth year of fluoridation J Am Dent Assoc 65 608–612 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:CC2C28jktlA%3D Occurrence Handle13975635
WJ Butler V Segreto E Collins (1985) ArticleTitlePrevalence of dental mottling in school-aged lifetime residents of 16 Texas communities Am J Public Health 75 1408–1412 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:BimD2cfivF0%3D Occurrence Handle4061713
JE Williams JD Zwemer (1990) ArticleTitleCommunity water fluoride levels, preschool dietary patterns, and the occurrence of fluoride enamel opacities J Public Health Dent 50 276–281 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:By%2BA283jvFY%3D Occurrence Handle2391676
ET Everett MA McHenry N Reynolds H Eggertsson J Sullivan C Kantmann EA Martinez-Mier JM Warrick GK Stookey (2002) ArticleTitleDental fluorosis: variability among different inbred mouse strains J Dent Res 81 794–798 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD38nkslCmsA%3D%3D Occurrence Handle12407097
JR Mernagh JE Harrison R Hancock KG McNeill (1977) ArticleTitleMeasurement of fluoride in bone Int J Appl Radiat Isot 28 581–583 Occurrence Handle10.1016/0020-708X(77)90040-0 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaE2sXlt12ru7s%3D Occurrence Handle885638
GE Gordon K Randel G Goles J Corliss M Benson S Oxley (1968) ArticleTitleInstrumental activation analysis of standard rocks with high resolution gamma-ray detectors Geochmicia et Cosmochimica Acta 32 369–396 Occurrence Handle10.1016/0016-7037(68)90074-4 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaF1cXhtVKrsb8%3D
PK DenBesten D Machule R Gallagher GW Marshall SuffixJr. C Mathews E Filvaroff (2001) ArticleTitleThe effect of TGF-beta 2 on dentin apposition and hardness in transgenic mice Adv Dent Res 15 39–41 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD3s7islSquw%3D%3D Occurrence Handle12640737
DL Streiner GR Norman (2000) Simple regression and correlation GR Norman DL Streiner (Eds) Biostatistics: the bare essentials BC Decker Hamilton, London 118–126
AR Ten Cate (1994) Oral histology: development, structure, and function Mosby St. Louis
PM Bartold AS Narayanan (1998) Biology of the periodontal connective tissues Quintessence Books Carol Stream, Ill
O Fejerskov A Thylstrup M Joost Larsen (1977) ArticleTitleClinical and structural features and possible pathogenic mechanisms of dental fluorosis Scand J Dent Res 85 510–534 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:CSeC3Mjjs1c%3D Occurrence Handle272716
O Fejerskov JA Yeager A Thylstrup (1979) ArticleTitleMicroradiography of the effect of acute and chronic administration of fluoride on human and rat dentine and enamel Arch Oral Biol 24 123–130 Occurrence Handle10.1016/0003-9969(79)90060-8 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaL3cXlslE%3D Occurrence Handle299137
O Fejerskov A Richards PK DenBesten (1996) The effect of fluoride on tooth mineralization O Fejerskov J Ekstrand BA Burt (Eds) Fluoride in dentistry Munksgaard Textbook Munksgaard 112–152
Acknowledgments
We would like to thank Ms. Deidra Faust for her technical assistance during this study and Dr. Angeles Martienz-Mier for fluoride analyses on food and water samples. This work was funded by a grant from the Canadian Institute of Health Research (CIHR) and by the NIH/NIDCR (R01 - DE014853) to ETE. AV is the recipient of Harron and Connaught Scholarships.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Vieira, A.P.G.F., Hanocock, R., Eggertsson, H. et al. Tooth Quality in Dental Fluorosis. Calcif Tissue Int 76, 17–25 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00223-004-0075-3
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00223-004-0075-3