The effect of a modified fluoride toothpaste technique on buccal enamel caries in adults with high caries prevalence: a 2-year clinical trial.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the preventive effect of a "modified fluoride (F) toothpaste technique" on the incidence and progression of buccal/ lingual enamel caries among Saudi adults with high caries prevalence.


METHODS
Adults were randomly assigned to test and control groups. Test group patients were instructed to use the provided F toothpaste twice a day as follows: 1, use 2cm toothpaste; 2, brush for 2 min; 3, swish the toothpaste slurry around the teeth for about half a minute before spitting it out; and 4, no post-brushing water rinsing and no eating/drinking for 2hr. The patients in the control group (n = 57) were instructed to continue using their regular F toothpaste twice a day without any further instructions. The patients' compliance in the test group was assessed after 2 years.


RESULTS
Of 175 adults, 113 completed the study. The test group (n = 56) had a lower enamel mean caries incidence 0.56 (sd 1.04) than the control group (n = 57), 1.01 (1.00) (p < 0.05), with a preventive fraction of 44%. There was no difference regarding enamel caries progression or arrested caries. The caries incidence in the test group was higher in the subgroup of patients who rinsed with water post-brushing and who only brushed once a day (p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The "modified fluoride toothpaste technique", as practised over the 2 years in a Saudi population with high caries prevalence, had a preventive effect on the incidence of buccal/lingual enamel caries but not on the progression.
Department of Conservative Science, Faculty of Dentistry, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. hsonbul@kau.edu.sa
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Sonbul
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Merdad
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Birkhed
D000328:Adult; D004245:DMF Index; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003743:Dental Enamel / Q000187:drug effects*; D003774:Dental Plaque Index; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005459:Fluorides / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009067:Mouthwashes / Q000008:administration & dosage; D010349:Patient Compliance; D012529:Saudi Arabia; D013997:Time Factors; D014089:Tooth Remineralization; D014099:Toothbrushing / Q000379:methods*; D014100:Toothpastes / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D009067:Mouthwashes; D014100:Toothpastes; D005459:Fluorides