Which condition may arise from excessive fluoride consumption?

Excessive fluoride consumption can lead to dental fluorosis, a condition characterized by changes in the appearance of the enamel. Dental fluorosis occurs when children consume too much fluoride during the early years of tooth development, usually while the permanent teeth are still forming beneath the gums. The excess fluoride affects the mineralization process, resulting in enamel that may be discolored, with white spots or mottled areas. In more severe cases, it can lead to pitting and surface irregularities. Understanding this condition is crucial for dental professionals to monitor fluoride intake in young patients and to ensure that fluoride levels in dental products and community water supplies remain within safe limits.

The other conditions mentioned, such as enamel caries, enamel hypoplasia, and cavity formation, are not directly caused by excessive fluoride intake and have different etiologies. Enamel caries typically results from bacterial activity and demineralization of the enamel due to acid production, while enamel hypoplasia is a developmental defect typically caused by nutritional deficiencies or illness during tooth development, not by fluoride exposure. Cavity formation is a result of the carious process, not a direct consequence of fluoride consumption.