title: Evidence-based clinical recommendations on the prescription of dietary fluoride supplements for caries prevention: a report of the American Dental Association Council on Scientific Affairs.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This article presents evidence-based clinical recommendations for the prescription of dietary fluoride supplements. The recommendations were developed by an expert panel convened by the American Dental Association (ADA) Council on Scientific Affairs (CSA). The panel addressed the following questions: when and for whom should fluoride supplements be prescribed, and what should be the recommended dosage schedule for dietary fluoride supplements?
  
  
  METHODS
  A panel of experts convened by the ADA CSA, in collaboration with staff of the ADA Center for Evidence-based Dentistry, conducted a MEDLINE search to identify publications that addressed the research questions: systematic reviews as well as clinical studies published since the systematic reviews were conducted (June 1, 2006).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The panel concluded that dietary fluoride supplements should be prescribed only for children who are at high risk of developing caries and whose primary source of drinking water is deficient in fluoride.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These recommendations are a resource for practitioners to consider in the clinical decision-making process. As part of the evidence-based approach to care, these clinical recommendations should be integrated with the practitioner's professional judgment and the patient's needs and preferences. Providers should carefully monitor the patient's adherence to the fluoride dosing schedule to maximize the potential therapeutic benefit.
authors.affiliation: Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA.
authors.forename: R Gary
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Rozier
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Adair
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Graham
authors.forename: Timothy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Iafolla
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kingman
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kohn
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Krol
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Levy
authors.forename: Howard
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Pollick
authors.forename: Gary
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Whitford
authors.forename: Sheila
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Strock
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Frantsve-Hawley
authors.forename: Krishna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Aravamudhan
authors.forename: Daniel M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Meyer
mesh_terms: D000571:American Dental Association; D002327:Cariostatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000592:standards / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D003729:Dental Care / Q000379:methods; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000592:standards*; D011307:Drug Prescriptions; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D055094:Evidence-Based Dentistry; D005459:Fluorides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000592:standards / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009050:Fluorosis, Dental / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D014481:United States; D014881:Water Supply / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D002327:Cariostatic Agents; D005459:Fluorides