Community Dental Health

cover art

Cover Date:
December 2006
Print ISSN:
0265 539X
Vol:
23
Issue:
4

Characteristics attributed to individuals with dental fluorosis

Background: Previous investigations of the public perception of dental fluorosis have focused mainly on aesthetics. Other characteristics which could potentially be ascribed to fluorosis, such as perceived personality traits, have not been examined. Objectives: This study aimed to identify personal characteristics (descriptors) attributed to people with fluorosis of varying degrees of severity, as depicted in standardised photographs viewed from different perspectives. Method: Extra-oral (full face) and intra-oral images of male and female subjects were digitally manipulated to represent normal dental enamel, mild, moderate, and severe fluorosis. The images were then scored by 90 members of the public (45M, 45F), under different experimental conditions, which varied the level of cueing to the teeth. Participants were asked (i) to record their spontaneous descriptors, (ii) select relevant descriptors from a predefined list of 50 descriptors and traits. Results: 170 different word or phrase descriptors were spontaneously attributed to the images. Characteristics used to describe fluorosis varied with the degree of severity. However, endorsements were significantly influenced by whether participants viewed extra or intraoral images and the degree of cueing. Conditions which most accurately mirrored everyday social interactions, that is viewing extraoral images without cueing to pay particular attention to the mouth, were least likely to result in the attribution of characteristics that varied with levels of fluorosis. Conclusions: While characteristics varying with severity of dental fluorosis were ascribed, more sophisticated attitudinal measures are required to ascertain the wider social impact of fluorosis beyond the aesthetic.

Key words: Dental Caries, fluoride, fluorosis, perception, psychology, public, risk-benefit.

Article Price
£15.00
Institution Article Price
£
Page Start
209
Page End
216
Authors
David Michael Williams, Ivor Gordon Chestnutt, Paul David Bennett, Kerenza Hood, Rob Lowe

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  1. Editorial
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  3. 196

  1. Caries prevalence in 12-year-old children from Germany. Results of the 2004 national survey
  2. 197
  3. 202

  1. The relationship between prevalence and incidence of dental caries. Some observational consequences.
  2. 203
  3. 208

  1. Characteristics attributed to individuals with dental fluorosis
  2. 209
  3. 216

  1. DIAGNOdent - an adjunctive diagnostic method for caries diagnosis in epidemiology
  2. 217
  3. 221

  1. Prevalence and factors associated with traumatic dental injuries (TDI) to anterior teeth of 11-13 year old Thai children
  2. 222
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  1. Performance indicators used to assess the quality of primary dental care
  2. 228
  3. 235

  1. A survey of school dental screening practise in community dental services of England and Wales in 2003
  2. 236
  3. 238

  1. The prevalence and pattern of hypodontia of the permanent teeth and crown size and shape deformity affecting upper lateral incisors in a sample of Jordanian dental patients.
  2. 239
  3. 243

  1. Relationship between dental caries experience (DMFS) and dental fluorosis in 12-year-old Puerto Ricans.
  2. 244
  3. 250

  1. Prevalence of dental caries in obese and normal-weight Brazilian adolescents attending state and private schools.
  2. 251
  3. 253

  1. Abstracts
  2. 254
  3. 254