Abstract:
Background: Little is known about dental fluorosis (DF) in Benghazi, Libya, where the public
water supply is naturally fluoridated.
Objective: The study aims to investigate the distribution of DF and its related risk factors
and impact on oral health−related quality of life (OHRQoL) and the association between DF
and caries amongst Libyan school children.
Methods: A cross-sectional survey was carried out amongst 12-year-old schoolchildren
in the city of Benghazi. Dean’s and decayed, missing, and filled surfaces (DMF) indices
were used to assess the severity of DF and dental caries. In addition, a self-administered
questionnaire was used to collect sociodemographic and behavioural information
and OHRQoL using the Child Oral Health Impact Profile−Short Version 19 (COHIPSF19).
Results: Out of 1125 children who participated in the study, 15%, 7.8%, 2.2%, and 0.4% of participants
were coded as having questionable, mild, moderate, and severe DF, respectively.
Children enrolled in private schools were less likely to have DF (odds ratio, 0.55; 95% confidence
interval, 0.35−0.83; P = .007). Moderate-severe DF was associated with more decayed
surfaces and DMF scores and low scores for COHIP-SF19 and its socioemotional well-being
subscale.
Conclusions: The data demonstrate that rates of DF are relatively low in naturally fluoridated
areas in Libya. DF amongst Libyan schoolchildren was associated with social disparities,
higher caries rates, and negative impacts on OHRQoL.
