Abstract

This study is comprised of 106 male patients over age forty from a high fluoride water (3.5-12.5 ppm) area. These patients have been matched by age and sex with 106 patients from a low fluoride water (0.00-0.45 ppm) area.

All patients had radiograms of the chest, pelvis and both femora; 21 in the fluorotic group underwent a skeletal survey. All plain films were examined for skeletal fluorosis changes; pelvis and femur radiograms for Moenckberg arterial calcifications.

Over age 60, patients in the high-fluoride group showed a significantly higher incidence of Moenckberg calcifications. A highly significant correlation (p < 0.001) was observed between the severity of these calcifications and the severity of skeletal changes within this group.