The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the effectiveness of two fluoride varnishes (Duraphat and Fluor Protector) in the prevention of dental caries in children residing in a non-fluoridated community. At baseline, 787 grade one children (6-7-yr old) were examined and randomly allocated into a control and two treatment groups. At 20 months, 703 children remained in the study. The mean baseline caries experience and the mean number of permanent teeth present at 20 months were not significantly different among the treatment and control groups. The mean DMFS increments after 20 months were 1.70, 1.73 and 2.02 for Fluor-Protector, Duraphat and control groups respectively (% reductions of 15.8 and 14.4 for Fluor-Protector and Duraphat groups). The mean dfs increments for primary molars after 20 months were 1.56, 1.62 and 1.74 for Fluor-Protector, Duraphat and control groups respectively (% reductions of 10 for Fluor-Protector and 7 for Duraphat).

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The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of weekly mouthrinsing with a 0.2 percent NaF solution in first-grade children living in a non-fluoridated community. Children in the control group were also participants in a randomized clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy of semiannual fluoride varnish treatments. Children allocated to the mouthrinse group attended school at three of the 17 area schools where the varnish study was occurring. Random allocation of children into the treatment group was considered impractical because of potential problems of teacher cooperation and compliance. The same two standardized examiners examined all participants, and were blind to group assignment for all children. After two academic years, or approximately 72 weeks of rinsing, 178 and 247 children remained in the treatment and control groups, respectively. The control group experienced a mean caries rate of 2.02 surfaces over 20 months, while the treatment group demonstrated an increment of only 1.33 surfaces, representing a savings of about 0.34 surfaces per year or a reduction in DMFS of 34.2 percent. Surface-specific incremental reductions after 20 months were 0.35, 0.19, and 0.14 for the occlusal, buccal, and lingual surfaces, respectively. The proximal increment was too small to draw any meaningful conclusions. In the primary dentition, the treatment and control dfs increments were 0.74 and 1.74, respectively. This reduction represents a savings of one-half surface increment per year, or a reduction of 57.5 percent.

No abstract