Caries development after substitution of supervised fluoride rinses and toothbrushings by unsupervised use of fluoride toothpaste.
In a nonfluoridated community of Finland, where fortnightly fluoride rinsing with 0.2% sodium fluoride has been used for nearly two decades, a total of 313 children 7-8 yr old were recruited and randomly divided into two groups. 206 children completed the 3-yr trial. The control group (n = 94) participated in the rinsing program which included supervised toothbrushings, while the test group (n = 112) received a new fluoride toothpaste tube (0.15% F) for home use every second month. Annual dental recordings, treatment plannings and the treatment itself were all carried out by one clinician. At the end of the study the number of caries-free children of the toothpaste group was lower (P < 0.01) and the caries increment higher (P < 0.05) than that of the mouthrinse group. Out of the mean of four dental visits per child and year some 1.5 were prophylactic by nature. No differences were found between the number of treatment visits, time or prophylactic care of the two groups. Unsupervised use of fluoride toothpaste may not be a sufficient substitute for the school-based fortnightly fluoride rinses and supervised toothbrushings in caries prevention of children with erupting permanent teeth.
Karjalainen
S
S
Pediatric Dentistry, University of Turku, Finland.
Eriksson
A L
AL
Ruokola
M
M
Toivonen
A
A
D002648:Child; D004245:DMF Index; D003729:Dental Care; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent; D005387:Finland; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D009067:Mouthwashes; D009910:Oral Hygiene; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D012575:Schools, Dental; D012646:Self Administration; D012969:Sodium Fluoride / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014078:Tooth Eruption; D014099:Toothbrushing; D014100:Toothpastes
D009067:Mouthwashes; D014100:Toothpastes; D012969:Sodium Fluoride