title: Use of fluoride tablets and effect on prevalence of dental caries and dental fluorosis.
abstract: A study was executed to investigate the relation between the use of fluoride tablets by children in the age period 1.5-6 yr on the one hand and the caries experience at the age of 6 and 15 yr and the prevalence of fluorosis at the age of 15 yr on the other hand. The year of birth of the child, the motivation of the mother to engage in preventive dental behavior, the level of her school education and her place of birth were taken into account as possible confounding factors. A significant relation was found between the use of fluoride tablets and the prevalence of fluorosis. The most important predicting factor for the caries experience of the child was the mother's motivation to engage in preventive dental behavior. An effect of fluoride tablets on the caries experience could not be demonstrated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Dental Health and Epidemiology, TNO Institute for Preventive Health Care, Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kalsbeek
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Verrips
authors.forename: O B
authors.initials: OB
authors.lastname: Dirks
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004245:DMF Index; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D009050:Fluorosis, Dental / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D016015:Logistic Models; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D009042:Motivation; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012969:Sodium Fluoride / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D012969:Sodium Fluoride