Caries prevention with chlorhexidine-thymol varnish in high risk schoolchildren.
In a prospective, randomised and blinded cohort study, the acceptance and effectiveness of a 3-monthly chlorhexidine-thymol varnish application was assessed in 8- to 10-yr-old children (n=29) with high caries incidence after brushing with a 1.23% fluoride gel. The children of the control group (n=25) brushed with a fluoride gel only. The standardised interview showed good acceptance of the varnish applications in spite of the bitter taste. Caries incidence in one year was 1.2 DMFS (SD 1.5, median 1; 95% confidence interval 0-1) for the test group and 2.1 DMFS (SD 2.3, median 2; 95% confidence interval 0-3) for the control group. Due to a slightly lower reduction in caries incidence (42.3%) than in other studies and a higher standard deviation than in unselected study groups, the power of the present study was not high enough to prove this difference in caries incidence to be statistically significant in the Mann-Whitney test (P=0.11). This was also found for the difference of 0.4 initial lesions. The distribution patterns of caries incidence for tooth groups (70% in the first permanent molar) and surfaces (58% on occlusal surfaces) did not differ between the test and the control group. The reductions of caries incidence which have been found in highly caries active children of the present study should be evaluated further with a larger study sample.
Splieth
C
C
Department of Operative Dentistry, Periodontology and Pediatric Dentistry, Ernst Moritz Arndt University, Greifswald, Germany. Splieth@mail.uni-greifswald.de
Steffen
H
H
Rosin
M
M
Welk
A
A
D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002327:Cariostatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002710:Chlorhexidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D004245:DMF Index; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003733:Dental Caries Susceptibility / Q000187:drug effects; D005459:Fluorides / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010150:Paint; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013649:Taste; D013943:Thymol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014100:Toothpastes / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D002327:Cariostatic Agents; D014100:Toothpastes; D013943:Thymol; D005459:Fluorides; D002710:Chlorhexidine