https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/37018 2026-04-15T18:19:39Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/43378 Title: Dental fluorosis in Gozo. Abstract: The aim of this study was to examine the levels of dental fluorosis in 5 year old and 12 year old school children, so as to evaluate if dental fluorosis in Gozo is presently a public health problem. A path finder survey carried out in 1986 by Moller suggested that dental fluorosis was a public health problem since values of >0.6 using Dean's index were recorded. These exceeded the threshold value of 0.4-0.6. However, Moller himself questioned the results due to the possibility that other enamel opacities were included as dental fluorosis. The objectives of this study were: 1. To determine prevalence of fluorosis in the deciduous dentition in Gozo, which has never been determined previously. 2. To establish how large a public health problem dental fluorosis currently is in both the deciduous (in 5 year olds) and the permanent dentition (in 12 year olds) in Gozo. 3. To determine how aware the 12 year old Gozitan children are about the aesthetic changes to their upper central incisors, associated with dental fluorosis. 4. To serve as a comparison for future studies which may be carried out to determine the effect of polished water on fluorosis prevalence in the same population. All 5 year old and 12 year old children with a signed consent form, present at the school on the day of the visit were examined clinically, and observations were recorded using the TF Index. Intraexaminer reliability was tested. Locality of residence in the case of 5 year olds and locality of residence up to 6 years of age in the case of the 12 year old children was recorded. The 12 year old children were also asked a question to determine awareness of aesthetic changes associated with dental fluorosis. The data collected was analysed using the SPSS software package. The results show negligible dental fluorosis in the 5 year old age group. 13.8 % of the 12 year olds had marks attributable to dental fluorosis on their upper anterior teeth, out of which only 4% have mild to moderate fluorosis (TF scores 3 to 5), the worst result recorded. Only 0.86 % of all the 12 year old children examined were aware of marks attributable to fluorosis on their upper anterior teeth. The difference in fluorosis between localities is statistically significant (p = 0.005). No correlation (p = 0.68) was found between mean fluoride concentrations (1994 to 2000) for individual localities and mean dental fluorosis levels reported in the respective localities. The conclusions drawn from this study are that: • Dental fluorosis prevalence in Gozo is currently: negligible in the deciduous dentition; low and mild in the permanent dentition. Therefore dental fluorosis in Gozo is currently not a public health problem. • The 12 year old children are not aware of the aesthetic changes associated with dental fluorosis. • There is a significant difference in the prevalence of dental fluorosis in the permanent dentition when analysed by locality. • The systemic source of dental fluorosis which is present in Gozo is not singularly tap water, as was previously assumed. Description: M.SC. PUBLIC HEALTH 2007-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/42009 Title: A study assessing the damage to permanent teeth following trauma to the primary dentition. Abstract: The purpose of the study was to investigate the effects of trauma to the primary teeth, related by age at the time of injury and the type of injury sustained, to the frequency and type of developmental disturbances in the permanent successor teeth, in a representative population of Maltese children. Thirty-two children with sixty-seven traumatized primary teeth were examined and any developmental disturbances in mineralization and· morphology of the corresponding permanent teeth recorded. Analysis of the results showed that 52.2% of the permanent successor teeth exhibited developmental disturbances following trauma to their primary predecessors. The maxillary central primary incisors were the most frequently injured teeth and there was a predominance of luxation injuries over crown/root fractures. The peak incidence of injuries occurred between 1-2 years and 3-4 years. The highest frequency of malformations in the permanent dentition was found following subluxation of the primary incisors. Internal enamel hypoplasia was the commonest disturbance seen in the permanent successor teeth. External enamel hypoplasia was mainly seen following intrusion injuries to primary incisors. Intrusion injuries were also associated with the most severe malformations in the permanent dentition. The age of the child at the time of traumatic injury to the primary dentition was a principal factor in the risk of developing malformations in the permanent successor teeth. Trauma to the primary incisors between 1 and 2 years of age had a more deleterious effect on the permanent successors than in the older age groups. The study concluded that the extent of malformation of the developing tooth germ was highly related to its developmental stage and to severity and type of trauma sustained by the primary incisor. Description: M.SC.CHILD DENTAL HEALTH&ORTH. 2007-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/33958 Title: Unerupted incisors characteristic features and associated dental anomalies Abstract: The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that an association exists between unerupted incisors and different types of dental anomalies in a sample of human subjects as compared to an adequately matched control group. This was done to elucidate the etiological and clinical relevance of such associations. A record of patients with unerupted incisors already existed within the Dental Department at St. Luke's Hospital. This database was used as a starting point for data collection. Further contemporary records of patients with unerupted incisors were collected from the Dental Outpatients Department at St. Luke's Hospital, School Dental Clinic at Floriana Health Centre and from private dental clinics. The size of the study group was 41 patients, ranging from 7 to 39 years old. A control group of 41 patients was matched as to age and gender. Each patient was assessed for nine dental anomalies namely, hyperdontia, hypodontia, microdontia, enamel defects, ectopic canines, ectopic premolars, ectopic first permanent molars, ectopic second permanent molars, and infraocclusion of primary molars. The results of this study revealed that: 1. males were more affected with unerupted incisors than females, with a prevalence of 2.7: 1; 2. a statistically significant association was found between unerupted incisors and other inherited dental anomalies, namely ectopic teeth, hyperdontia and enamel defects. The evidence supports the rejection of the null hypothesis that no association exists between unerupted incisors and inheritable dental anomalies. Unerupted incisors may be considered part of the spectrum of inheritable dental anomalies. Description: M.SC.CHILD DENTAL HEALTH&ORTH. 2007-01-01T00:00:00Z