Association between dental enamel opacities and dental caries in a north Wales population.

This study examined the association between enamel opacities and dental caries in a population from North Wales with low levels of fluoride in the drinking water. Those subjects with only diffuse (n = 317) types of opacity had a mean DMFS of 1.6 (+/- 3.4) compared with those having only demarcated (n = 1,408) opacities of 3.4 (+/- 4.3). The group with both (n = 317) types of defect present had a DMFS of 2.4 (+/- 3.7) and the group with no defects (n = 1,496) had a DMFS of 2.7 (+/- 3.8). These differences were statistically significant (p < 0.001). Possible reasons for these differences are discussed.