Developmental defects of enamel in the population of Polish adolescents aged 18 years old: the prevalence and selected socio-demographic factors. A cross-sectional study

Introduction. There has been a lack of current epidemiological data regarding the prevalence of developmental defects of enamel in Polish adolescents. Aim. To evaluate the prevalence of developmental defect of enamel in the permanent dentition in the population of adolescents aged 18 years old, including the impact of selected sociodemographic factors. Material and methods. A cross-sectional study conducted in 2017 covered adolescents aged 18 years old attending schools in 16 Polish voivodeships, selected by stratified sampling. Sociodemographic factors such as sex, place of residence, parents’ education level and subjective economic status were collected with a survey. The condition of enamel was assessed with the use of DDE Index modified by Clarkson and Dean’s Indicator by dentists specially trained and calibrated for this study. Prior to its initiation, the study was approved by the Bioethics Committee of the Medical University in Warsaw (Ref. No.: KB/134/217 of 6.06.217). Results. A total of 1611 adolescents were examined (with 52.6% female and 50.5% were residents of rural areas). Developmental defects of enamel were identified in 16.3% of the participants of the study, most frequently in the form of demarcated opacities (10.4%). In 2.7%, they were classified as fluorosis, most frequently questionable. Maxillary central incisors and first premolars were most frequently affected. In 2.5% of the examined adolescents, the defects involved single teeth, whereas in 0.6% the defects were generalised. Defects not classified as fluorosis were more commonly identified in males. There were statistically significant differences in the prevalence between voivodeships, with defects most commonly observed in participants from southern voivodeships. No other sociodemographic factors, however, were identified as significant. Conclusions. The highest prevalence of demarcated opacities suggests the significance of local factors in the aetiology of developmental enamel defects of permanent dentition in Poland. Fluorosis is a rarely encountered entity. The lack of the significance of sociodemographic factors and the regional differences in the prevalence of developmental defects of enamel suggest the need for further research, aimed at identifying geographical risk factors.