AU - Nagarajappa, Sandesh AU - Prasad, K.V.V TI - Dental Caries and Dental Fluorosis Experience after Change from High Fluoride to very 6 low fluoride water source in Gadag Town, India PT - ARTI DP - 2006 Jul 1 TA - Journal of Indian Association of Public Health Dentistry PG - 6-10 VI - 4 IP - 8 4099- https://journals.lww.com/aphd/pages/default.aspx/article.asp?issn=2319-5932;year=2006;volume=4;issue=8;spage=6;epage=10;aulast=Nagarajappa;type=0 4100- https://journals.lww.com/aphd/pages/default.aspx/article.asp?issn=2319-5932;year=2006;volume=4;issue=8;spage=6;epage=10;aulast=Nagarajappa AB - In 1992-93, drinking water source of Gadag city was shifted from the deep bore-well water, which had more than optimum level of fluoride concentration to surface water of Tunga-bhadra River having very low fluoride. Objective: To study the dental caries and dental fluorosis experience among 5-6 and 12-13 years old in Gadag city. Method : 5-6 years and 12-13 years old (n = 226) school children, who were born and brought up after 1992, were selected for the study using stratified random sampling technique. As no data was available previous dental caries and fluorosis experience of Gadag, a group of villages near to Gadag having similar climatic conditions but no or very low fluoride were included as comparison group. These children were assessed for dental caries using dft and DMFf indices and also assessed for dental fluorosis using Dean's Fluorosis index. A sample of drinking water source was collected from each area for the confirmation of fluoride levels reported by the concerned authorities. Results: The mean caries experience of 5-6 years old in Gadag was 2.02 (S.D = ± 2.69) and that of comparison group was 2.57 (S.D = ± 3.16 ). Significant less dental caries was observed among 12 - 13 years old in Gadag [DMFf = 0.625 (S.D = ± 1.03)] compared to the comparison group [DMFf = 1.046 (S.D = ± 1.39) ] (p = < 0.05). 21.8% of 12-13 years old were experiencing Fluorosis in Gadag. Conclusions: There was significantly less caries experience among 12-13 years old in Gadag compared to the comparison group of places. The 12-13 years old children in Gadag were experiencing fluorosis even after the change of drinking water source to Tunga-bhadra river water.