Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2010, 7(3), 927-937; doi:10.3390/ijerph7030927
Article

Accuracy of the Simplified Thylstrup & Fejerskov Index in Rural Communities with Endemic Fluorosis

Ana Karoline Adelário 1 email, Lívia F. Vilas-Novas 1 email, Lia S. Castilho 2 email, Andréa Maria D. Vargas 1 email, Efigênia F. Ferreira 1 email and Mauro Henrique N. G. Abreu 1,* email
1 Department of Community and Preventive Dentistry, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Avenida Antônio Carlos, 6627–31270.901 sala 3304, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil 2 Department of Operative Dentistry, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Avenida Antônio Carlos, 6627–31270.901, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Received: 21 December 2009; in revised form: 29 January 2010 / Accepted: 22 February 2010 / Published: 9 March 2010
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Abstract: The aim of the present study was to compare the values of the Thylstrup & Fejerskov Index (TF index) for the determination of the prevalence of dental fluorosis using either all teeth (gold standard) or six upper anterior teeth (simplified TF index). The sample was made up of 396 individuals aged six to 22 years from three Brazilian cities with endemic fluorosis caused by the ingestion of water with high fluoride concentration. The prevalence of dental fluorosis was evaluated by a single trained examiner with excellent intraexaminer agreement (kappa = 0.95). Intraexaminer reproducibilities were calculated at tooth level. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of the simplified TF compared to gold standard were 90.6 (95%CI: 86.6 to 93.6), 100 (95%CI: 95.3 to 100), 100 (95%CI: 98.3 to 100) and 77.5 (95%CI: 69.8 to 83.5), respectively. The ROC value was 0.953 (95%CI: 0.933 to 0.973). The simplified TF index proved suitable for determining the prevalence of dental fluorosis in regions with endemic fluorosis caused by the ingestion of water with high concentrations of fluoride.
Keywords: accuracy; dental fluorosis; Thylstrup & Fejerskov Index

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Cite This Article

MDPI and ACS Style

Adelário, A.K.; Vilas-Novas, L.F.; Castilho, L.S.; Vargas, A.M.D.; Ferreira, E.F.; Abreu, M.H.N.G. Accuracy of the Simplified Thylstrup & Fejerskov Index in Rural Communities with Endemic Fluorosis. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2010, 7, 927-937.

AMA Style

Adelário AK, Vilas-Novas LF, Castilho LS, Vargas AMD, Ferreira EF, Abreu MHNG. Accuracy of the Simplified Thylstrup & Fejerskov Index in Rural Communities with Endemic Fluorosis. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2010; 7(3):927-937.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Adelário, Ana Karoline; Vilas-Novas, Lívia F.; Castilho, Lia S.; Vargas, Andréa Maria D.; Ferreira, Efigênia F.; Abreu, Mauro Henrique N. G. 2010. "Accuracy of the Simplified Thylstrup & Fejerskov Index in Rural Communities with Endemic Fluorosis." Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 7, no. 3: 927-937.

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