Effect of Stannous Fluoride Treatments on the Progression of Initial Lesions in Approximal Surfaces of Permanent Posterior Teeth

Abstract

Bite-wing radiographs were used to determine the effect of three forms of topical SnF2 therapy on the progression of initial lesions in the approximal surfaces of permanent posterior teeth. Radiographs were taken annually over a four-year period. The subjects were schoolchildren, aged 12-14 yr, living in a low fluoride area. The professional application of a 10% SnF2 solution for 30 s, semi-annually for two yr, had no discernible effect on the development of the initial lesions. However, the home use of a SnF2 dentifrice did inhibit caries progression appreciably at all but one of the four time intervals in the study. The professional application of a 10% SnF2 solution for 30 s, semi-annually for two yr, combined with the home use of a SnF2 dentifrice, was the most effective treatment in retarding lesion development. Even without topical fluoride therapy, the rate of progression of initial approximal lesions was generally quite slow. In view of these findings, it would seem sound clinical practice to treat all initial lesions in approximal surfaces with topical fluoride therapy and delay placement of restorations until there is radiographic evidence of lesions reaching dentin.

Effect of Different Fluoride Levels in Dentifrice on the Development of Approximal Caries

“…The increasing experimental evidence show ing the ability of fluoride to arrest or even repair enamel lesions has been supported to date by rel atively few clinical studies [Hollender and Koch, 1969;Hyde, 1973;Powell et al, 1981;Axelsson et al, 1987],…”

Root surface caries: a recurrent dilemma*

“…Having completed cavity design, the dentine should be conditioned ready for the application of the glass-ionomer cement using either polyacrylic acid (5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10) seconds) or tannic acid (30 seconds). Flush the cavity thoroughly, dry it but do not dehydrate and place the glass-ionomer cement of choice.…”

A method to reduce interproximal overlapping and improve reproducibility of bitewing radiographs for use in clinical trials

“…There are few studies reported in the dental literature that have examined the problem of overlapping carefully, particularly in primary dentitions (23,24) while there are many clinical trials that make no mention of exclusions due to overlapping (8,12,25,26).…”

“…In another study of adult dentitions HAUGEJORDEN (1) excluded 31-39% of surfaces as unreadable. Definitions of overlapping on radiographs and rules for exclusion vary greatly in previous caries epidemiological studies, studies of radiographic methodology and clinical trials (6)(7)(8)11,12,(23)(24)(25)(26)(27). Even though these studies give a contradictory picture of the importance of loss of data due to overlapping, it seems clear that overlapping surfaces is a common source of error that may often be compounded in longitudinal studies.…”

“…Although many previous studies on the progression of caries (3,(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12) used standardising devices in their technique and the investigators often evaluated the inter-and intraexaminer variability, it appears that only BACKER-DIRKS (3) evaluated his method of radiographic assessment by re-taking duplicate films and comparing caries scores in both sets of radiographs. None ofthe above investigators used their radiographs for any kind of quantitative assessment of their reproducibility, for example, measuring the horizontal width of overlaps.…”