IADR Abstract Archives
Effectiveness of topical fluoride application in preventing occlusal cavitated caries
Objectives: This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of the semi-annual application of 38% silver diamine fluoride (SDF), 5% NaF varnish and placebo control in preventing occlusal caries in primary molars in preschool children.
Methods: This parallel 3-arm, double-blind, randomized controlled trial started in September 2020. Children around three years old were randomly allocated to one of the three study groups - Group A: 38% SDF, Group B: 5% NaF varnish, and Group C: tonic water. The study agent, according to the child’s group assignment, was applied with a mircobrush onto the non-cavitated occlusal surfaces of all primary molars. The interventions and dental examinations were carried out biannually in the kindergartens. Caries development was diagnosed at the cavitation level using the WHO criteria by standardized visual-tactile examination. An intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis was adopted for the analysis. Chi-square test and generalized estimating equation (GEE) were adopted to evaluate the differences in caries incidence rates at the child and the occlusal surface levels.
Results: 791 children with 5090 occlusal caries-free surfaces were included at the baseline. At the 24-month follow-up, the child-level caries incidence rates were 21.7% (57/263), 21.8% (57/262) and 26.7% (71/266) in Groups A, B and C, respectively (Chi-square test, p= 0.295). At the tooth surface level, the caries incidence rates were 5.8%, 5.8% and 7.1% for Groups A, B and C, respectively (p= 0.255). Oral hygiene, baseline caries experience, tooth type and location, snack-taking frequency, family income and place of birth influenced caries incidence.
Conclusions: Biannual application of SDF and NaF varnish did not show significant differences in preventing occlusal cavitated caries in primary molars in the 24-month observational period compared with the placebo. This trial is ongoing and a longer-term (30-month) result will be presented later.
Methods: This parallel 3-arm, double-blind, randomized controlled trial started in September 2020. Children around three years old were randomly allocated to one of the three study groups - Group A: 38% SDF, Group B: 5% NaF varnish, and Group C: tonic water. The study agent, according to the child’s group assignment, was applied with a mircobrush onto the non-cavitated occlusal surfaces of all primary molars. The interventions and dental examinations were carried out biannually in the kindergartens. Caries development was diagnosed at the cavitation level using the WHO criteria by standardized visual-tactile examination. An intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis was adopted for the analysis. Chi-square test and generalized estimating equation (GEE) were adopted to evaluate the differences in caries incidence rates at the child and the occlusal surface levels.
Results: 791 children with 5090 occlusal caries-free surfaces were included at the baseline. At the 24-month follow-up, the child-level caries incidence rates were 21.7% (57/263), 21.8% (57/262) and 26.7% (71/266) in Groups A, B and C, respectively (Chi-square test, p= 0.295). At the tooth surface level, the caries incidence rates were 5.8%, 5.8% and 7.1% for Groups A, B and C, respectively (p= 0.255). Oral hygiene, baseline caries experience, tooth type and location, snack-taking frequency, family income and place of birth influenced caries incidence.
Conclusions: Biannual application of SDF and NaF varnish did not show significant differences in preventing occlusal cavitated caries in primary molars in the 24-month observational period compared with the placebo. This trial is ongoing and a longer-term (30-month) result will be presented later.