Excerpt:

Summary

Chronic fluorosis alters bone structure, leads to odd exostosis, to osseous appositions, to ossification of ligaments and tendons and their insertions. This can cause pain and discomfort. Radiological examination usually leads to the correct diagnosis; the most constant changes were found in films of elbows and forearms. Such films may be useful in the diagnosis of industrial fluorosis and perhaps for detecting undesirable effects of prolonged fluoride therapy. It seems clear that manifestations of fluorosis in adults appear only after prolonged exposure at high dosage. If signs of fluorosis are present, they may lead to symptoms of the osteoarticular system. Therapy with high dosage fluoride should be monitored carefully.

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