A comparison of information recorded using the Thylstrup Fejerskov index, Tooth Surface Index of Fluorosis and Developmental Defects of Enamel index.

This study considers information recorded using three different indices of enamel defects/fluorosis. The comparisons were based on photographs of subjects taken in two areas with < 0.1 and with 0.7 ppm fluoride in their drinking water. The three indices used were the Thylstrup Fejerskov index, the Tooth Surface Index of Fluorosis (TSIF) and the Developmental Defects of Enamel (DDE) index. Each was scored by a different examiner. All three indices were able to detect significant differences in opacity/fluorosis prevalence between the two areas. However, it was clear from the results that information collected using these different enamel opacity/fluorosis indices was not directly comparable for individual teeth even though prevalences of defects were similar for two of the indices, the TSIF and the DDE index.