IADR Abstract Archives
Evaluation of a School-Based Fluoride Varnish Programme in Sweden with Focus on Caries Prevention and Cost Effectiveness
Objectives: To evaluate a school-based fluoride varnish programme (FVP) for 12-15 year-olds, partly implemented in 2003 and fully implemented in 2009, in Region Västra Götaland, Sweden, with focus on caries prevention and cost effectiveness.
Methods: Caries data from the dental records in the Public Dental Service’s (PDS) for three groups were compared. Group 1 (n=3500) and Group 2 (n=15629) were born the same year. Group 1 had taken part of a FVP and Group 2 acted as the control. Those groups were compared to Group 3 (n=12189), adolescents born 5 year later which all had taken part of a FVP. All adolescents had been examined at the PDS, which in this region consisted of totally 138 clinics. In the FVP, the adolescents met dental personnel at school for fluoride varnish applications (Duraphat®, 2.26% F) every sixth month from 6th to 9th grade. Furthermore, the adolescents participated in two lessons focusing on oral health and tobacco use. More than 95% of all classes in the region participated and the cost was estimated to 100 SEK (12 USD) per adolescent and year. Means and standard deviations were calculated for all groups and the differences were tested by General Linear Model.
Results: The changes in mean DFSa from 12 to 15 years were 0.188 for Group 1, 0.300 for Group 2 and 0.198 for Group 3. The GLM-model showed statistically significant differences within groups and also between the groups over time (p<0.001), indicating a lower caries increment for Group 1 and Group 3 which took part in the FVP. The cost gain due to decreased number of fillings was higher than the total cost of the intervention.
Conclusions: This study showed that the caries increment from 12 to 15 years was significantly lower after the implementation of FVP. In a short perspective, the FVP was cost-effective and considering a longer perspective each prevented filling is possibly also a saving from both the individual and society perspectives.
Methods: Caries data from the dental records in the Public Dental Service’s (PDS) for three groups were compared. Group 1 (n=3500) and Group 2 (n=15629) were born the same year. Group 1 had taken part of a FVP and Group 2 acted as the control. Those groups were compared to Group 3 (n=12189), adolescents born 5 year later which all had taken part of a FVP. All adolescents had been examined at the PDS, which in this region consisted of totally 138 clinics. In the FVP, the adolescents met dental personnel at school for fluoride varnish applications (Duraphat®, 2.26% F) every sixth month from 6th to 9th grade. Furthermore, the adolescents participated in two lessons focusing on oral health and tobacco use. More than 95% of all classes in the region participated and the cost was estimated to 100 SEK (12 USD) per adolescent and year. Means and standard deviations were calculated for all groups and the differences were tested by General Linear Model.
Results: The changes in mean DFSa from 12 to 15 years were 0.188 for Group 1, 0.300 for Group 2 and 0.198 for Group 3. The GLM-model showed statistically significant differences within groups and also between the groups over time (p<0.001), indicating a lower caries increment for Group 1 and Group 3 which took part in the FVP. The cost gain due to decreased number of fillings was higher than the total cost of the intervention.
Conclusions: This study showed that the caries increment from 12 to 15 years was significantly lower after the implementation of FVP. In a short perspective, the FVP was cost-effective and considering a longer perspective each prevented filling is possibly also a saving from both the individual and society perspectives.