Address of Corresponding Author

Caries Res 2005;39:236-240 (DOI: 10.1159/000084804)

  Key Words

• Caries prevention
• Enamel and dentine caries
• Fluoride gel
• Professional application
• Randomized controlled trial

  Abstract

In a double-blind randomized controlled clinical trial, the caries-reducing effect of semi-annually applied fluoride gel in a low-caries child population initially aged 4.5-6.5 years (n = 773) has been investigated. Secondary analyses of the data were performed to study the caries reduction including non-cavitated lesions. The treatment effect of fluoride gel was calculated as preventive fraction (PF). When enamel lesions were included in DFS count (D₂ grade), the PF was 22% as compared to 26% counting dentinal lesions. The PFs showed that the mean effect of professionally applied fluoride gel was highest (71%) for D₃S in the permanent dentition and lowest for d₃s in the primary dentition (5%). The PFs for approximal and buccal and lingual surfaces of the permanent dentition significantly decreased from 80 to 25% and from 60 to 37% when enamel lesions (D₂S) were included. With the exception of the buccal and lingual surfaces, in the primary dentition the PFs varied slightly when enamel lesions were included. Inclusion of non-cavitated lesions in the treatment effect statistics did not change the former conclusion that the treatment effect of fluoride gel application on dental caries reduction in a low-caries child population was considered not clinically relevant.

Copyright © 2005 S. Karger AG, Basel

  Author Contacts

Gert-Jan Truin
Department of Preventive and Restorative Dentistry/117
University of Nijmegen, UMCN, PO Box 9101
NL-6500 HB Nijmegen (The Netherlands)
Tel. +31 24 361 6410, Fax +31 24 354 0265, E-Mail g.truin@dent.umcn.nl

  Article Information

Received: October 9, 2003
Accepted after revision: July 22, 2004
Number of Print Pages : 5
Number of Figures : 0, Number of Tables : 4, Number of References : 9