Combined fluoride therapies

A 6-yr double-blind study was undertaken to compare the caries inhibiting-effectiveness of (a) 1 mgF− tablets (daily at school) plus fortnightly rinsing at school with 1000 ppmF−; (b) 1 mgF− tablets plus placebo rinsing; and (c) placebo tablets plus 1000 ppmF− rinsing. Participants were aged 4.5–5 yr at outset of the trial. At baseline, and annually thereafter, clinical caries and bitewing X-ray examinations were undertaken, hence ethical approval for a negative control was not feasible. Fissure sealant presence was also recorded. Initially, 192 children from predominantly low socio-economic backgrounds were enrolled, and baseline analyses showed no significant differences between groups with respect to primary caries prevalence. After 6 yr, 112 children remained, by which time no significant differences were noted between DMFT and DMFS values for those in the active tablet/active rinse group, as compared to those in the placebo tablet/active rinse group. However, in relation to both indices, in permanent first molars, the effectiveness of the active tablet/placebo rinse regime appeared to be significantly poorer than the placebo tablet/active rinse programme. For the active tablet/active rinse group, the DMFT difference was significantly less than the active tablet/placebo rinse group (37.9%), although for the DMFS difference, significance was not achieved. Similar trends were noted when DMFT and DMFS values for all permanent teeth were considered. The occlusal caries prevalence in permanent first molars followed the DMFT pattern, but differences between combined tablet/rinsing children and tablet-only children could be ascribed solely to the effectiveness of sealant presence. As F− rinsing was supervised, the most likely explanation of these results is that children involved with active F− tablet ingestion were cither not receiving them, or these formulations were being used in such a manner that no extra benefit was obtained. Further cost-effectiveness studies would therefore seem necessary to determine whether ancillary employment would be justified in terms of increased caries benefit.

[1]  Stone Hh,et al.  The effect of topical applications of potassium fluoride and of the ingestion of tablets containing sodium fluoride on the incidence of dental caries , 1949, British Dental Journal.

[2]  K. Stephen,et al.  Caries prevalence in northern Scotland before, and 5 years after, water defluoridation , 1987, British Dental Journal.

[3]  P. Axelsson,et al.  Effect of fluoride containing dentifrice, mouthrinsing, and varnish on approximal dental caries in a 3-year clinical trial. , 1987, Community dentistry and oral epidemiology.

[4]  J. Murray.  Appropriate use of fluorides for human health , 1986 .

[5]  Palmer Jd,et al.  Guidelines for prevalence studies of dental caries. , 1984 .

[6]  J. Brunelle,et al.  Caries-preventive effects of fluoride tablets in schoolchildren four years after discontinuation of treatments. , 1981, Journal of the American Dental Association.

[7]  K. Stephen,et al.  Fluoride tablets and salivary fluoride levels. , 1981, Caries research.

[8]  H. Horowitz,et al.  Evaluation of a combination of self-administered fluoride procedures for the control of dental caries in a nonfluoride area: findings after four years. , 1979, Journal of the American Dental Association.

[9]  K. Stephen,et al.  Caries reduction and cost benefit after 3 years of sucking fluoride tablets daily at school. A double-blind trial , 1978, British Dental Journal.

[10]  K. Stephen,et al.  Five years of community preventive dentistry and health education in the county of Sutherland, Scotland. , 1978, Community dentistry and oral epidemiology.

[11]  F. Ashley,et al.  Clinical testing of a mouthrinse and a dentifrice containing fluoride. A two-year supervised study in school children , 1977, British Dental Journal.

[12]  J. Birkeland,et al.  Benefits and prognoses following 10 years of a fluoride mouthrinsing program. , 1977, Scandinavian journal of dental research.

[13]  F. J. Margolis,et al.  Flouride. Ten-year prospective study of deciduous and permanent dentition. , 1975, American journal of diseases of children.

[14]  P. Holloway,et al.  Methods of measuring the reliability of caries prevalence and incremental data. , 1974, Community dentistry and oral epidemiology.

[15]  M. Larsen,et al.  Caries-preventive effect of a dentifrice containing 2% sodium monofluorophosphate in a natural fluoride area in Denmark , 1974 .

[16]  B. Forsman.  The caries preventing effect of mouthrinsing with 0.025 percent sodium fluoride solution in Swedish children. , 1974, Community dentistry and oral epidemiology.

[17]  P. Depaola,et al.  The caries-inhibiting effect of acidulated phosphate-fluoride chewable tablets: a two-year double-blind study. , 1968, Journal of the American Dental Association.