title: Fluoride supplements in pregnancy, effectiveness in the prevention of dental caries in a group of children.
abstract: This clinical, retrospective study intends to evaluate whether the systemic administration of fluoride during pregnancy can reduce caries incidence in a group of paediatric patients, compared to a control group.84 patients were selected out of a sample of 2000 children (3-15 years of age) and then divided in two groups: TEST Group: 34 patients (16M - 18F, mean age 9.23), whose mothers had taken fluoride during pregnancy;
  
  
  METHODS
  50 patients (23M - 27F, mean age 9) whose mothers had not taken fluoride.Patients underwent a clinical and radiographic inspection to assess the dfs/DFS value as caries index (decayed or filled surfaces for deciduous or permanent teeth).
  
  
  RESULTS
  DFS/DFS VALUE: TEST Group: 3.41, CONTROL group 2.49. The TEST group was further divided in individuals who were administered fluoride only during pregnancy (33%) with a dfs/DFS of 3.14 and individuals who were administered fluoride also after birth (67%) with a dfs/DFS of 3. Caries index (dfs/DFS) did not show any significant differences between the test and control groups. Fluoride administration during pregnancy and postpartum does not seem to have a significant impact on the reduction of caries incidence. More preventive strategies should be investigated to contrast the multifactorial etiology of children caries.
authors.affiliation: Department of Odontostomatological Science, Paediatric Dentistry, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Maturo
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Costacurta
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Perugia
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Docimo
keywords: caries in children; caries prevention; fluoride; pregnancy dietary supplements; systemic fluoroprophylaxis