Relationships between fluoride in enamel, DMFT Index and fluorosis in high‐ and low‐fluoride areas in South Africa

Abstract
The DMFT Index, degree of fluorosis (DEGF), and enamel fluoride concentration (F) were determined in 88 children living in a high- and 79 children living in a low-fluoride area in South Africa. The following interrelationships between these parameters were found: in both areas there was a significant negative correlation between log F and age; in the high-fluoride area there was a significant positive correlation between log F and DEGF; and in the combined data from the two areas there were significant correlations between log F and area, log F and age, and log F and DEGF, and a significant association between DEGF and area. There were no significant correlations between DMFT and log F and between DMFT and DEGF.