A two-year Study of Fluoridated Foam on the Prevention of Deciduous Caries

Objective: To observe the effect of using fluoridated foam to prevent caries of deciduous teeth in the middle and west of Hubei Province. Method: 1685 children aged 3~5-year-old from three kindergartens was assigned to a fluoridated foam group and a control group. The experimental group was used in 4-minute routine procedure twice a year. The study lasted two years. Results: The caries prevalence of the experimental group was 59.4%, the mean caries of deciduous teeth was 2.49 and the average dmfs was 2.86, which were significantly lower than those of the control group (75.9%, 3.04, 3.19). There was a significant difference between the two groups (p<0.01). In the experimental group, the newly developed caries prevalence was 23.7%, the newly developed mean caries of deciduous teeth and dmfs were 1.28, 0.87 respectively, which were obviously lower than those of the control group (39.7%, 1.77, 1.15). There was an obvious difference between the two groups (p<0.01). The newly caries prevalence, mean dmft and dmfs reduced in 40.3%, 27.7%, 24.3% respectively. Conclusion: The application of fluoridated foam is an effective preventive measure against caries in deciduous caries in the middle and west of Hubei. The study was supported by Research Fund of Bureau of Health, Hubei Province.