In 1969, a caries preventive program was initiated in a part of Denmark where parents of infants were offered prescriptions for fluoride tablets for daily use. When requested new prescriptions were supplied free of charge by the County Dental Officer. In 1976, samples of children about 7 years of age who had received a total of 0, 1–800, 800–1,600 and more than 1,600 0.25 mg F tablets were examined. A positive association between number of tablets prescribed and dental fluorosis was found in erupted permanent teeth. The frequency of localized enamel opacities was similar in the four study groups. A significant inhibition of dental caries in the primary dentition was recorded only for those, who in total received more than 1,600 tablets and used them continuously through the years. No difference in caries was observed in the permanent dentition. The findings indicate in accordance with current theories that topical effects of fluoride rather than the systemic effects have prevented dental caries.

251 9-12-yr-old children completed a 3-yr, double-blind, clinical trial of two caries preventive fluoride programs. Caries increments and progression patterns were compared in two groups of children who rinsed every fortnight with a 0.2% NaF solution or received biannual topical applications with a fluoride varnish (Fluor-Protector). Clinically recorded mean DFS increments were 3.3 +/- 0.2 (SE) in the rinse group and 3.5 +/- 0.2 in the varnish group. In both groups nearly half of these increments were recorded in the occlusal surfaces of second molars. The mean incremental DFS recorded radiographically on approximal surfaces of posterior teeth were 1.1 +/- 0.2 and 1.5 +/- 0.2 in the rinse and varnish group, respectively. None of the inter-group differences were statistically significant (P greater than 0.05). Detailed analyses of the radiographic scores revealed a similar and extremely slow caries progression in the two study groups and they strengthened the conclusion of equal clinical efficacy of the two treatments. None of the fluoride programs had been able to change preestablished patterns of caries development among the children.

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