title: Impact of 24-month fluoride tablet program on children with disabilities in a non-fluoridated country.
abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the caries preventive effects of a school-based fluoride tablet program in children with disabilities. Two hundred and seventeen children with disabilities were divided into two groups: the intervention group (IG) ingested 1.0mg fluoride tablet daily while the control group (CG) ingested a placebo. The initial oral examinations were conducted prior to fluoride intake and 24-month follow-up examinations were conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of fluoride tablet ingestion. The results from this study demonstrated significant reductions in the DMFT index (the sum of decayed, missing, and filled permanent teeth), 0.63, as well as the DMFS index (the sum of decayed, missing, and filled surfaces of the permanent dentition), 1.25, when compared with the CG. A statistically significant reduction in the DMFT index and DMFS index (30.42% and 36.84%, respectively) suggested an anti-cariogenic benefit to fluoride tablet administration. Greater caries reduction occurred on mesio-distal and bucco-lingual surfaces (53.27% and 52.57%, respectively). Fluoride tablets should be considered as a caries preventive strategy in school-based caries prevention programs for children with disabilities in fluoride deficient areas.
authors.affiliation: School of Dentistry, College of Dental Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. showyea.liu@gmail.com
authors.forename: Hsiu-Yueh
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Hsin-Chia
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Hung
authors.forename: Szu-Yu
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Hsiao
authors.forename: Hong-Sen
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yea-Yin
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Yen
authors.forename: Shun-Te
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Chun-Chih
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Ping-Ho
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Cheng-Chin
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Pei-Chen
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Yun-Lin
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Lu
mesh_terms: D002327:Cariostatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002648:Child; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000150:complications* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000150:complications*; D019988:Children with Disabilities; D005260:Female; D005459:Fluorides / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012574:Schools; D013607:Tablets / Q000008:administration & dosage; D013624:Taiwan; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D002327:Cariostatic Agents; D013607:Tablets; D005459:Fluorides
keywords: Caries prevention; Children; Disabilities; Effectiveness; Fluoride; School-based; Supplements