SKELETAL FLUOROSIS

Abstract

The description of the skeletal fluorosis has been produced by a series of clinical investigations in areas when the climate associated with the fluoride content of tap water produced high levels of exposition of fluorine. All reports are mostly coincident, the differences strongly suggests that there are multiple associated factors: calcium and vitamin D intakes, nutritional status, etc. The development of skeletal fluorosis is associated with the increase in fluoride bone mineral content and shown as sporadic bone and articular pain, through chronic joints pain, arthritic symptoms, ligaments calcification, osteoesclerosis with or without osteoporosis of long bones up to the severe limitation of joints movement (neck, vertebral column) crippling deformities of the column and main joints, compression of the spinal cord and neurological defects