Dental professionals - how can you tell difference between hypoplasia and fluorosis?

Patient history: The results of each condition are similar but have different causes. Enamel fluorosis is caused by too much systemic Fluoride intake. High doses can be toxic to the enamel forming cells called ameloblasts. Enamel hypoplasia can have many causes; infectious, nutritional, chemical, or traumatic factors can all play a role. The ameloblasts are damaged and don't form emamel properly in this case.

Difference: Hypoplasia by definition means under developed so the enamel should be thin and fragile. Fluorosis can look similar but enamel should still be thick. Depending on severity it could still be very strong where as hypoplasia is not. Fluorosis may appear brown and white and chalky if it is quite severe as well. See a dentist if you are concerned.

Depentant on colour: Just to. Explain first fluorosis is a form of enamel hypoplasia all though if very dark and brown and the region you come from the amount of Fluoride in water is more then possibly it could be fluorosis . Most hypoplasia's are localized where as fluorosis is generalized on all teeth.