Prevalence of dental caries among 13 and 15-year-old school children in an endemic fluorosis area: a cross-sectional study.

AIM To assess the prevalence of dental caries and dental fluorosis among 13- to 15-year-old school children in Panyam, Andhra Pradesh, India. MATERIALS AND METHODS The cross-sectional study was conducted among 202 school children and were examined for dental fluorosis and dental caries. RESULTS This study shows that male students have a decrease in DMFT (Decayed, missing, filled, teeth) index and increase in Dean's index when compared with females. Among students with 13 to 15 years of age, 13-year-old student has increase in DMFT score when compared with other age groups and 14-year-old students has increase in Dean's score when compared with other age group students. CONCLUSION The prevalence of dental caries decreased with the increase of fluorosis among the students examined. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE Patients with dental fluorosis show a decreased prevalence of dental caries.