Differential diagnosis of dental fluorosis made by undergraduate dental students

ABSTRACT Objective To check knowledge of undergraduate dental students to make diagnosis of dental fluorosis with varying degrees of severity and choose its appropriate treatment. Methods Data were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire addressing knowledge of undergraduates based on ten images of mouths presenting enamel changes. Results Only three images were correctly diagnosed by most undergraduates; the major difficulty was in establishing dental fluorosis severity degree. Conclusion Despite much information about fluorosis conveyed during the Dentistry training, as defined in the course syllabus, a significant part of the students was not able to differentiate it from other lesions; they did not demonstrate expertise as to defining severity of fluorosis and indications for treatment, and could not make the correct diagnosis of enamel surface changes.

摘要：
目的 调研口腔医学本科学生对不同严重程度氟牙症（dental fluorosis）的诊断认知，并选取合适的治疗方案。
方法 采用半结构化问卷收集数据，基于10张呈现牙釉质病变的口腔图像，评估本科学生的相关知识掌握情况。
结果 仅3张图像被大多数学生正确诊断；主要难点在于判定氟牙症的严重程度分级。
结论 尽管口腔医学课程大纲中明确的教学内容涵盖了大量氟牙症相关知识，但仍有相当比例的学生无法将其与其他牙体病变相鉴别；学生在氟牙症严重程度判定、治疗指征把握上未体现出专业素养，且无法对牙釉质表面病变做出正确诊断。