An epidemiologic estimate of the critical period during which human maxillary central incisors are most susceptible to fluorosis.

The temporal relation between a declining fluorosis gradient and an abrupt downward shift in community drinking water fluoride concentration was evaluated through multiple correlation analysis to determine the critical time frame during which developing maxillary central incisors are most susceptible to fluoride challenge. Fluorosis data were scrutinized through a time-related series of epidemiologic "windows" or time frames of varying lengths. The placement of these time frames was in turn related to the presumed start of enamel mineralization (at birth), and ranged from zero to 60 months later. In this way, the susceptibility of developing enamel to changes in water fluoride concentration was localized. The greatest risk was associated with a four-month critical period commencing at 22 months following birth. The risk of fluorosis from exposures to a fluoride challenge acting during shorter periods was better localized than risk associated with longer exposures. We concluded (1) that human maxillary central incisors are most susceptible to fluorosis during a critical period of as little as four months' duration, commencing at 22 months of age; and (2) that for these incisors, fluoride exposure during the months prior to this period carries less risk than continued exposure for up to 36 months beyond this critical time.