Long-term caries preventive-effects of a school-based fluoride mouthrinse in adulthood

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the long-term caries preventive- effects of a school-based fluoride mouth rinse program (FMR) in adults aged 20 years and older. Methods: We enrolled 2 cities, 2 towns, and 1 village in Niigata Prefecture. In Japan, dental and medical health examinations for both 1.5- and 3-year-old children are implemented by the governments of municipalities under the law of child and maternal health and welfare. 637 mothers aged from 20 to 39 years who visited local health centers to take their children for medical and dental check-ups at 1.5- or 3-year-old were surveyed in 2004-2005. Clinical examination on dental caries was carried out for the subjects. We also obtained information regarding the FMR program how duration the subjects participated in between nursery school and junior high school. When analyzing data, the subjects were divided into 4 groups: FMR from nursery to junior high school group (N-JH group, N=22), FMR limited in elementary school group (El group, N=62), FMR no-experience group (N=545), and other subjects whose FMR experience is not clear (N=8). For evaluation of the FMR program effect, multiple regression analysis was used. As independent variable, the FMR program patterns, which were converted into dummy data, and age were included, and mean DMFT was used as dependent variable. Results: The results of multiple regression analysis between mean DMFT and FMR program patterns showed that the N-JH group and El group were negatively associated with the mean DMFT (ß=-0.20, p<0.001 for N-JH group and ß=-0.11, p=0.003 for El group). Conclusion: The positive caries preventive effects of school-based FMR program from nursery school to junior high school can continue in adults aged 20 years and older.