Relationship among dental fluorosis, intellectual, quotient and academic performance

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine the association of dental fluorosis with alterations in cognitive assessment (IQ), average academic performance scores, and age-gender relationships in students from a population from the Dominican Republic, with endemic fluorosis. A cross-referenced study was carried out on 84 students from a public school located in an area with endemic fluorosis. An aggregate sampling design was used for the sample; those who complied with the inclusion criteria were selected through a simple random sampling model. Dental fluorosis was evaluated by grades according to Dean’s index. Students participating in the study were given Raven’s advanced progressive matrices test to determine IQ. The school academic average scores were supplied by the school administration. A moderate fluorosis level, obtained the highest case prevalence (45.2%). Almost 99% of the evaluated students, got intellectually lower results than the average score according to Raven’s test. A noticeable discordance was evident among grades of IQ and average academic scores. The results showed that there was no statistically significant relationship between dental fluorosis and cognitive assessment. A secondary follow-up study is recommended with a larger population.