Prevalence of Dental Fluorosis and Concentration of Fluoride in Drinking Water at Sumbrungu in the Bolgatanga Metropolis

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2012-06-19
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Abstract
The prevalence and severity of dental fluorosis in children between the ages of 12 and 15 years, who were born and live in Sumbrungu, Bolgatanga metropolis, was determined between December 2011 and February 2012, The study also determined the concentration of fluorides (F-) using the fluoride specific ion selective electrode method. Additionally, dental fluorosis amongst the children was determined according to the Dean’s fluorosis Index. To determine the severity of fluorosis, the Community Fluorosis Index (CFI) was calculated. Mean concentration of fluoride was highest 1.06±0.14 in boreholes, followed by wells 0.99±0.11and lowest 0.37±0.08 in surface waters. However, fluoride concentration in all the different water sources; boreholes, wells and river at Sumbrungu were statistically not significantly different. Prevalence of dental fluorosis in the Sumbrungu community was 65% and the Community Fluorosis Index, 1.3. Thus even though fluoride concentration in the different water sources is lower than the WHO guideline, the Community Fluorosis Index is higher than 0.6 which indicates a public health problem.
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A Thesis submitted to the Department of Environmental Science,Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, in partial fulfilment of the requirement for the degree Of Master Of Science in Environmental Science.
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