Micellaneous Photographs - Fluorosis

This intra oral photo shows the appearance of a dentition affected by dental fluorosis. This condition results from excessive ingestion of fluoride during the formation of the dentition. This irreversible condition is regarded as a mineralization disorder of the teeth, the consequence being enamel with increase porosity and decreased mineral content. The mechanism for this is damage to the enamel forming cells (ameloblasts) by the excessive presence of fluoride. Dental fluorosis manifests in a broad range of severity, depending upon the level of exposure and nutritional status of the child. The appearance of the teeth can vary from white lesions on the enamel (mild) to marked yellow/brown stain appearance (severe) as seen on the photo above. The enamel may be pitted, rough and hard to clean, causing some patients to seek cosmetic dentistry treatment options. Excessive ingestion of fluoride for the child’s size and weight can happen in a number of ways. Some children may use too much fluoridated toothpaste and then swallow it rather than spit it out, the other main source of ingested fluoride is from fluoridated tap water. However fluoride is necessary to prevent tooth decay and can be prescribed as a preventative measure by a dentist where necessary.