Use of fluoride tablets in childhood: a 10-year prospective study.
Regular and persistent use of fluoride tablets throughout childhood is part of the national population-based preventive strategy and of the individual risk strategy of the Public Dental Health Service in Norway. The purpose of this study was to describe intraindividual stability in use of fluoride tablets in childhood and to analyze change in stability with respect to previous caries risk. Data stemmed from a 10-year prospective study of 231 Norwegian children. Intraindividual stability was described as individual profiles, showing that individual use of fluoride tablets varied substantially over the 10-year period. The significance of previous caries risk for change in use of fluoride tablets was analyzed by logistic regression analysis. The probability of increase in use of fluoride tablets increased significantly with previous caries activity. The results are discussed in light of population strategy and individual risk strategy in the Public Dental Health Service in Norway. Intraindividual variation in use of fluoride tablets over time may reflect the limited individual impact of preventive measures in pursuance of the population strategy. On the other hand, increase in use subsequent to a period of high caries risk indicates that intraindividual change in use of fluoride tablets may be initiated by individual risk strategy.
Institute of Community Dentistry, Oslo, Norway.
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Rossow
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Holst
D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004245:DMF Index; D005459:Fluorides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011336:Probability; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013607:Tablets; D013997:Time Factors
D013607:Tablets; D005459:Fluorides