Caries Prevalence Four Years after the End of a Randomised Controlled Trial

Abstract

This study measured dental caries in children after cessation of a 30-month randomised clinical trial in which the intervention group received supervised toothbrushing once a day at school with 1,000 ppm fluoride toothpaste and a home support package encouraging twice-daily toothbrushing. The non-intervention group did not brush at school or receive the home support package. Children were aged 5 years at baseline and were examined every 6 months during the trial, then at 6, 18, 30 and 54 months after the end of the trial. Significantly less caries developed in first permanent molars of intervention children at the end of the trial. Of the 428 children who were examined at the end of the trial 329 (77%) were examined 54 months later when the children were aged 12 years on average. The intervention group still had less caries (D₃FS caries increment 1.62) than the non-intervention children (D₃FS caries increment 2.65, p < 0.05). Prolonged benefits have been found for intervention children principally in less caries in first permanent molars. Further follow-up at an age when the second molars and premolars have all erupted will help determine whether this benefit is due to a long-term behavioural change or a prolonged biological effect.

Effectiveness of Different Preventive Programs in Cariogram Parameters of Young Adults at High Caries Risk

“…Activity of fluoride toothpastes is based on fluoride concentration, usage frequency, amount of paste used, and habit of mouth washing after brushing [20]. According to the result of a research conducted on children, caries risk is reported to have decreased significantly with a 4.5-year program that comprises brushing with toothpaste containing 1000 ppm fluoride two times a day [24]. On the other hand, individuals with high caries risk are required to use toothpastes containing 5000 ppm fluoride, which has been accepted recently [11].…”

How much is a ‘pea-sized amount’? A study of dentifrice dosing by parents in three countries

“…Incremental improvements in plaque removal through self‐performed brushing are unlikely to deliver a substantial caries benefit, especially when compared with the benefits of fluoride toothpaste. However, increased brushing frequency has been linked to reductions in caries during clinical trials and the effect of establishing good brushing behaviour has been demonstrated during intervention studies. Further, when behaviour is changed early in life, the caries benefits can continue for many years beyond the intervention period.…”

“…Further, when behaviour is changed early in life, the caries benefits can continue for many years beyond the intervention period. This caries benefit, resulting from modified behaviour, was also seen in teeth that were unerupted during the intervention period and therefore cannot be attributed to, for example, enhanced fluoride incorporation during post‐eruptive maturation during the intervention period.…”

Percepción y hábitos de salud bucodental en niños y adolescentes de Navarra, 2007

“…No obstante, tratándose de una medida preventiva tan importante en el autocuidado de la salud bucodental [7][8][9] sería deseable incrementar ese porcentaje en los próximos años.…”