THE PREVALENCE OF DENTAL CARIES AND ENAMEL FLUOROSIS AMONG SCHOOL CHILDREN IN THE WHITE NILE STATE
THE PREVALENCE OF DENTAL CARIES AND ENAMEL FLUOROSIS AMONG SCHOOL CHILDREN IN THE WHITE NILE STATE
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Date
2015-03-30
Authors
EL SIDDIG DAROUS, ABDALLA
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
UOFK
Abstract
Sudan is the largest country in Africa, forming 8.3% of the
continent with a surface area of about one million square miles and a
total population of around 30 millions. 69% of the Sudanese are
farmers and nomads while the rest are engaged in other different
economic activities. The country is divided into 26 states, ten of
which are in the southern part of the country, while the remaining
sixteen are in the north, east and western parts. Sudan lies in the
eastern part of Africa, extending from latitude 4 South of the
Egyptian borders to Latitude 23 degree. It has bounderies with 9
countries.(Fig I)
The Nile is the longest river in the world and is formed by the White Nile
flowing from lake Victoria in Uganda with many tributaries feeding it such as Sobat,
IX
and the Blue Nile flowing from Lake Tana in Ethiopia and is fed by many tributaries
including Dinder, Rahd and river Atbara from the Ethiopian heighlands.
The White Nile state (Fig II & III) is one of the 26 states of the Sudan, located
40 km south of the capital Khartoum. The White Nile state lies in the middle of Sudan
from latitude 13 No - 15 No and from 31.3 Eo to 33 Eo. (1)
It’s total area is about 41.000 sqkm divided into two parts from south to north
by the White Nile. On the Eastern bank of the Nile we find the two provinces of
Jeblein and Getina, while Dueim and Kosti provinces lie on the western bank of the
White Nile.
Dental caries is a major dental disease affecting the lives of large populations
of the world. It impairs the quality of life for many people by causing pain and sepsis.
Lack of treatment of dental caries can aggravate other systemic diseases.
It is believed that bacteria plays a major role in the production of caries. The
organisms most commonly associated with dental caries are the lactobacilli and many
strains of streptococci (S.Mutans) as well as other forms of bacteria. The well
established inverse relationship between fluoride concentrations in the drinking water
and the prevalence of dental caries has stimulated extensive research aimed at
determining the optium level of fluoride ingestion required to obtain the maximum
protection against dental caries with the least risk of producing dental fluorosis.
Fluoride represents about 0.06 - 0.09 of the earth crust, in rock
and soil, and it is found combined in a wide vairety of minerals.
Water contains varying concentrations of fluoride. The fluoride obtained from
lakes and rivers or artesian wells is for the most parts below 0.5 mg/l. Even though
high concentrations as high as 95mg/kg have been recorded in Tanzania. (WHO,
1986)(2) Humans ingest various amounts of fluoride and there are great individual
variations in the daily intake of fluoride from solid foods depending on the
composition of the diet and fluoride contents of the water by which the food has been
prepared.
The fluoride content of drinking water is commonly the largest contributor to
the daily fluoride intake of humans which in turn depends on the fluoride
concentration in water, age of the person, climatic conditions and dietary habits.(3)
Dental fluorosis is a specific disturbance of tooth formation caused by
excessive fluoride intake during the formative periods of the dentition.
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Keywords
Epidemiology of dental caries