The effectiveness of sponge-type intraoral applicators for applying topical fluorides in institutionalized older adults.
Many older adults who reside in nursing homes have disabilities which limit their capacity to benefit from the usual protocols for prevention of dental caries. This is a report of a study of the effectiveness of an alternative method of applying topical fluoride in the institutionalized elderly. Fluoride gel (1.1% NaF) was applied to the facial tooth surfaces of 10 elderly nursing home residents using a sponge-type intraoral applicator (IA). Subsequently, the same subjects rinsed with a commercial fluoride solution (0.05% NaF). Salivary fluoride levels were then assessed by the Taves (1968) method. The IA with fluoride produced significantly higher salivary fluoride levels over a period of three hours compared with rinsing.
Saunders
R H
RH
University of Rochester, USA.
Davila
E
E
Hayes
A L
AL
Fu
J
J
Zero
D T
DT
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016321:Dental Care for Aged / Q000295:instrumentation*; D005260:Female; D005459:Fluorides / Q000032:analysis; D005460:Fluorides, Topical / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005782:Gels; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009735:Nursing Homes; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry; D012472:Salivation / Q000502:physiology
D005460:Fluorides, Topical; D005782:Gels; D005459:Fluorides