title: The effectiveness of sponge-type intraoral applicators for applying topical fluorides in institutionalized older adults.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: University of Rochester, USA.
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Saunders
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Davila
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Hayes
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.forename: D T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Zero
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D005460:Fluorides, Topical; D005782:Gels; D005459:Fluorides