title: Fluoride varnish effect on preventing dental caries in a sample of 3-6 years old children.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Early childhood caries is one of the most prevalent chronic diseases of children that affect their life and their family in different aspects. Using different types of fluoride is one of the most effective ways for preventing the disease. Fluoride varnish is a topical fluoride product which could use in the community even by non-professional. This study aimed to assess the effect of fluoride varnish on dental caries in a group of children aged 3-6 years old in Kerman kindergarten during 6 month's period.
  
  
  METHODS
  This community interventional study recruited a sample of volunteer children from 12 kindergartens through a cluster sampling. Kindergarten randomly allocated to test and control group after matching. Dental examination was performed in three phases of the study by a trained dentist using criteria of Intentional Caries Detection and Assessment System. Fluoride varnish was applied for test group in the first phase after dental examination and also 3 and 6 months after this phase. Control group has received varnish product just after 3 and 6 months after the first dental exam. Mean decayed, missed and filled teeth (dmft) were compared between and within groups using T-test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  From 476 children who participated in the study 55% were boys and the 6 years group was the most frequent group with 35% (166). Mean dmft difference was significant between Phase 1 and 2 (P = 0.05) in the test group but there was no significant difference between Phase 2 and 3 (P = 0.07). The difference was not significant between Phase 1 and 2 (P = 0.09) but it was significant between Phase 1 and 3 (P = 0.03) in the control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study results showed a decrease in mean dmft after applying the fluoride varnish which confirms previous studies.
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, Department of Dental Public Health, Research Center of Social Determinants of Health, Institute of Future Health Research, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
authors.forename: Tayebeh Malek
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Mohammadi
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of Dental Public Health, Oral and Dental Disease Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
authors.forename: Abolghasem
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hajizamani
authors.affiliation: Dental Student, Department of Dental Public Health, Student Research Committee, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
authors.forename: Hamid Reza
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Hajizamani
authors.affiliation: Dentist, Department of Dental Public Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
authors.forename: Batol
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Abolghasemi
keywords: Community trial; early childhood caries; fluoride varnish