DEPARTMENT OF PREVENTIVE &

COMMUNITY DENTISTRY

SKELETAL FLOUROSIS
Def. Skeletal fluorosis is a bone disease caused by excessive consumption of fluoride.
Area Effected Causes

Phases

Ash concentration
Osteosclerotic phase Symptoms and signs
(mgF/kg)

Normal Bone 500 to 1,000 Normal

Preclinical Phase 3,500 to 5,500 Asymptomatic; slight radiographically-detectable increases in bone mass

Clinical Phase I 6,000 to 7,000 Sporadic pain; stiffness of joints; osteosclerosis of pelvis and vertebral spine

Chronic joint pain; arthritic symptoms; slight calcification of ligaments' increased osteosclerosis and
Clinical Phase II 7,500 to 9,000
cancellous bones; with/without osteoporosis of long bones

Limitation of joint movement; calcification of ligaments of neck vertebral column; crippling

Phase III: Crippling
8,400 deformities of the spine and major joints; muscle wasting; neurological defects/compression of spinal
Fluorosis
cord

RADIAGRAPHIC FEATURES