Enhanced anticaries efficacy of a 0.243% sodium fluoride/10% xylitol/silica dentifrice: 3-year clinical results.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy of a sodium fluoride (NaF)/silica/xylitol dentifrice compared with that of a positive control NaF/silica dentifrice on caries increments in school children over a 3-year period in an area without an optimal level of fluoride in the drinking water (mean level <0.1 ppm).


METHODS
A 3-year, double-blind clinical caries study was conducted in 2,630 children initially aged 8-10 years at 17 schools in the San Jose, Costa Rica metropolitan area. Clinical dental examinations were performed at participating schools utilizing portable dental equipment. Caries evaluations employed conventional tactile/visual methodology consisting of artificial light, dental mirrors and single-edge #23 explorers. Children accepted into the study were stratified by age and sex into two balanced groups within each school, and randomly assigned to use either a positive control dentifrice containing 0.243% NaF/silica or a test dentifrice containing 0.234% NaF/silica/10% xylitol. Children were instructed to brush with the assigned dentifrice twice daily. Caries evaluations were conducted at baseline, 2 years, and 3 years.


RESULTS
After 3 years, subjects using the 0.234% NaF/silica/10% xylitol dentifrice had statistically significantly reduced decayed/filled surfaces (DFS; -12.3% reduction; P < or = 0.001) and decayed/filled buccal and lingual surfaces (DFS-BL; -10.5% reduction; P < or = 0/01).
Sintes
J L
JL
Colgate-Palmolive Technology Center, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA.
Escalante
C
C
Stewart
B
B
McCool
J J
JJ
Garcia
L
L
Volpe
A R
AR
Triol
C
C
D002327:Cariostatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D004245:DMF Index; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003802:Dentifrices / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; D012969:Sodium Fluoride / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014993:Xylitol / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D002327:Cariostatic Agents; D003802:Dentifrices; D004338:Drug Combinations; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; D012969:Sodium Fluoride; D014993:Xylitol