DT News - India - Fluoride varnish application aids in prevention and progression of caries in children

Dental Tribune International

Sat. 12 May 2018

save

COLOGNE, Germany: Whereas caries in adults and adolescents in Germany is declining, research has found that about 14 per cent of 3-year-olds in the country have cavities in their primary dentition. According to a report by the Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG), fluoride varnish is effective in remineralisation of the tooth surface and prevents the development and progression of caries.

Permanent teeth may be affected by caries at an early stage in the case of caries-affected primary teeth, as the enamel has not yet fully hardened. Because oral hygiene and caries prevention can be challenging in young children, the use of fluoride varnish can be beneficial.

For this reason, the IQWiG researchers investigated whether the application of fluoride varnish to primary dentition has advantages in comparison with standard care without fluoride application by comparing the findings of 15 randomised controlled trials. In these, a total of 5,002 children were treated with fluoride varnish, and 4,705 children received no such treatment, being the control group. Children aged up to 6 years with or without caries of their primary teeth were included in the research.

In several of the studies, further measures for caries prevention in addition to the application of fluoride varnish were offered. These included training on oral hygiene, instruction on the correct tooth brushing technique, and the provision of toothbrushes and fluoridated toothpaste. The follow-up observation period was mostly two years.

The development of caries was investigated in all 15 studies; side-effects were investigated in nearly all of the studies. However, owing to a lack of conclusive data, it is unclear whether fluoride application also has advantages regarding further patient-relevant outcomes, such as tooth preservation, toothache or dental abscesses. There was no data on oral health-related quality of life.

A clear advantage of fluoride varnish was determined despite the very heterogeneous study results. After the application of fluoride varnish, caries in primary teeth was less frequent. More precisely, the fluoride treatment could completely prevent caries in approximately every tenth child and would at least reduce progression of caries in further children. Apparently, whether the children already had caries or whether their teeth were completely intact made no difference regarding the benefit of fluoride varnish application.

The report, titled “Assessment of the application of fluoride varnish on milk teeth to prevent the development and progression of initial caries or new carious lesions”, was published online by IQWiG on 26 April 2018.

To post a reply please login or register

Study examines effectiveness of silver diamine fluoride and sealants in caries arrest and prevention

NEW YORK, US: In a recent study, researchers investigated the effectiveness of silver diamine fluoride and dental sealants in the arrest and prevention of ...

Treating Incipient Dental Caries In Children, A New Method Developed

WASHINGTON, U.S.: Prevention of dental caries in children is the best way to improve their oral health; however, many patients would be thrilled to have ...

AI applications in healthcare: Is it just a FOMO thing?

Simply sprinkling the term “AI” into start-up pitch decks seems to increase the likelihood of getting access to funding. The media continuously reports ...

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention release statement on spread of Candida auris

NEW YORK, U.S.: In 2019, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a statement declaring that Candida auris is an emerging fungus that ...

Family characteristics affect the periodontal diseases in children and adolescents

BRISBANE, Australia: We have enough literature to demonstrate an association between dental caries and family characteristics. However, the same is not ...

Clinical use of Chlorine dioxide in the prevention of coronavirus spread through dental aerosols.

This article by Dr Anuj Gandhi and Malvika Gandhi reviews the literature available on the use of Chlorine Dioxide in dental clinics and makes a hypothesis ...

Prevention of cross-contamination in dental clinics: Practical suggestions from Dr Ajay Kakar

Dr Ajay Kakar, a periodontist from Mumbai well known for his innovative approach to dentistry and also known as a pioneer in the use of technology and ...

Hydroxyapatite toothpaste - an alternative to fluoride toothpaste?

WÜRZBURG, Germany: The use of hydroxyapatite has been investigated and discussed for years as an artificial tooth enamel to prevent loss of tooth structure...

Education

On-demand
webinar