title: Approximal caries increment in adolescents in a low caries prevalence area in Sweden after a 3.5-year school-based fluoride varnish programme with Bifluorid 12 and Duraphat.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate approximal caries increment among 12- to 16-year-olds in a low caries prevalence area in Sweden after a 3.5-year school-based fluoride (F) varnish programme with Bifluorid 12 and Duraphat.
  
  
  METHODS
  The design was a RCT study with 1365 adolescents, divided into following four groups: Group 1 Bifluorid 12 two applications/year; Group 2 Duraphat two applications/year; Group 3 Bifluorid 12 four applications/year and Group 4 no F varnish at school. 1143 children (84%) completed the study. Approximal caries was registered on bitewing radiographs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no statistically significant differences in caries prevalence among the groups either at baseline or after 3.5 years . The caries increment for Group 1 was 1.34 ± 2.99 (mean ± SD), 1.24 ± 2.84 for Group 2, 1.07 ± 2.66 for Group 3 and 1.25 ± 2.75 for Group 4, with no statically significant differences either between Bifluorid 12 and Duraphat with the same frequency of F varnish applications or between the F groups and the control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In an area with low caries prevalence in Sweden, the supplementary caries-preventive effect of school-based F varnish applications, to regular use of F toothpaste at home and to regular caries prevention given at the Public Dental Clinics, appears to be nonsignificant regarding approximal caries increment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cariology, Institute of Odontology, The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden; Department of Preventive and Community Dentistry, Public Dental Health Service, Västra Götaland Region, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Eva-Karin
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Bergström
authors.forename: Dowen
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Birkhed
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Granlund
authors.forename: Ulla Moberg
authors.initials: UM
authors.lastname: Sköld
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002124:Calcium Fluoride / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002327:Cariostatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004245:DMF Index; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D005460:Fluorides, Topical / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012572:School Health Services; D012969:Sodium Fluoride / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: C094502:Bifluorid 12; D002327:Cariostatic Agents; D005460:Fluorides, Topical; C023807:sodium fluoride topical preparation; D012969:Sodium Fluoride; D002124:Calcium Fluoride
keywords: approximal caries increment; fluoride varnish; low caries prevalence; randomized controlled trial; school programme