Assessment of autofluorescence to detect the remineralization capabilities of sodium fluoride, monofluorophosphate and non-fluoride dentifrices. A single-blind cluster randomized trial.
The purpose of the study was to determine if longitudinal measurements of enamel autofluorescence (quantitative light-induced fluorescence, QLF) could detect differences in remineralization of early enamel caries on buccal surfaces of anterior teeth following supervised daily brushing with either sodium fluoride (NaF; 1,450 ppm F), sodium monofluorophosphate (MFP; 1,450 ppm F) dentifrices or a herbal, non-fluoride placebo dentifrice. The study was a pragmatic cluster-randomized controlled trial with schools as the unit of randomization. Twenty-one schools in Chengdu, China, comprised the clusters; 296 children with at least 1 visible white-spot lesion were examined using QLF at baseline and after 3 and 6 months. Each of the 21 clusters was randomly assigned 1 of the 3 dentifrices, and the children brushed under supervision once per day for 2 min. The primary outcome measure was deltaQ (product of fluorescence loss and area) at a 5% threshold after 6 months of product use. A multi-level model was fitted to the data at the site level, taking into account the hierarchical structure with baseline deltaQ, age and sex as covariates. After 3 months there was a significant difference between the MFP group and placebo (p = 0.02) and after 6 months between the NaF group (p = 0.002), MFP group (p < 0.001) and the placebo. QLF methodology could detect, within 3- and 6-month periods of supervised brushing, a difference in remineralization between fluoride-containing and non-fluoride-containing dentifrices. Typically lesions in all 3 treatment groups demonstrated improvement. Groups receiving fluoride experienced a more rapid and more substantial remineralization than those in the placebo group.
Feng
Y
Y
Department of Preventive Dentistry, West China College of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
Yin
W
W
Hu
D
D
Zhang
Y P
YP
Ellwood
R P
RP
Pretty
I A
IA
D002327:Cariostatic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002648:Child; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000188:drug therapy; D003743:Dental Enamel / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects; D003802:Dentifrices / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D005453:Fluorescence; D005459:Fluorides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010710:Phosphates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012969:Sodium Fluoride / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014089:Tooth Remineralization / Q000379:methods*
D002327:Cariostatic Agents; D003802:Dentifrices; D010710:Phosphates; C012980:fluorophosphate; D012969:Sodium Fluoride; D005459:Fluorides