IADR Abstract Archives
Sustained Dental Health Benefits for Adults From Childhood Toothbrushing Intervention
Objectives: In 1997, 534 high-caries-risk children in Tayside, Scotland, aged 5.3 years were randomly allocated by class to two groups: control: no intervention; test: daily supervised toothbrushing on school-days with toothpaste containing 1,000 ppm fluoride (as sodium monofluorophosphate) and 0.13% calcium glycerophosphate. Test children were given the same toothpaste and brushes for home use, families received charts to promote toothbrushing morning and night. Two years later, test children had significant reductions in dental caries: 32% at D(1) and 56% at D(3). With permission, children’s National Health Service (NHS) dental records in Scotland were followed to determine whether benefits to dental health were maintained.
Methods: Dental records: January 1999 to October 2012 for study children. Participant age in 2012: 20 years. Records available: 244 in Brushing Group; 217 in Control. Some young people had no NHS record: 24 (9%) in Brushing Group; 22 (9%) in Control. Records missing if people moved out of Scotland, never attended a dentist, deceased, or attended for private care.
Results: Initial analysis of this major treatment database identified the number of distinct courses of treatment each person had which included a treatment for restorations for dental caries. This includes all amalgam fillings and composite or synthetic resin fillings (excluding incisal tip repairs); and endodontics for premolars and molars. In the Brushing Group (n=244), mean number of courses of treatment was 3.5 (s.d. 3.1) compared to Control (n=217), mean 4.3 (s.d. 3.7); p=0.03 (t-test). There were 19% fewer courses of treatment for restorations for caries for the Brushing Group compared to Control.
Conclusions: Initial analysis of this unique follow-up study indicates a significant sustained health benefit for adults from childhood supervised toothbrushing at school with fluoridated toothpaste, when combined with family support for day and night use.
Methods: Dental records: January 1999 to October 2012 for study children. Participant age in 2012: 20 years. Records available: 244 in Brushing Group; 217 in Control. Some young people had no NHS record: 24 (9%) in Brushing Group; 22 (9%) in Control. Records missing if people moved out of Scotland, never attended a dentist, deceased, or attended for private care.
Results: Initial analysis of this major treatment database identified the number of distinct courses of treatment each person had which included a treatment for restorations for dental caries. This includes all amalgam fillings and composite or synthetic resin fillings (excluding incisal tip repairs); and endodontics for premolars and molars. In the Brushing Group (n=244), mean number of courses of treatment was 3.5 (s.d. 3.1) compared to Control (n=217), mean 4.3 (s.d. 3.7); p=0.03 (t-test). There were 19% fewer courses of treatment for restorations for caries for the Brushing Group compared to Control.
Conclusions: Initial analysis of this unique follow-up study indicates a significant sustained health benefit for adults from childhood supervised toothbrushing at school with fluoridated toothpaste, when combined with family support for day and night use.