Preventive Dentistry

Oral Disease Prevention Technologies for Community Use

“…Periodontitis, a more serious infection, leads to destruction of supporting bone, loss of periodontal attachment, tooth mobility, and if left untreated, likely eventual loss of the tooth. On a population basis, periodontitis shows a strong age-dependent effect after about age 30 (28).…”

“…Because of the recognized benefits from fluoride consumed in drinking water, fluoride tablets and drops have been provided for a number of years to children living in fluoride-deficient areas. Drops are recommended from birth until the age when the child can manage fluoride tablets; these tablets should be continued through the midteen years (28). Table 2 depicts dosage schedules recommended by the American Dental Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics.…”

“…Although reductions in dental decay of up to 80% have been demonstrated under optimal conditions (where supplements are available from birth), 50-65% is more likely (28). Where supplements are available starting at school age, reductions of 25-40% are possible.…”

“…In the United States, for example, over 90% of the dentifrice sold contains fluoride (monofluorophosphate or NaF). Studies done in the late 1950s and early 1960s indicated that children who used a fluoride-containing dentifrice daily had 20-40% fewer dental caries than children who did not use such a dentifrice (28). Where oral hygiene is practiced widely on a population basis and especially where dentifrice is routinely used, fluoride dentifrice is highly recommended.…”

“…Originally developed for institutional use by children in public health settings, they have since become popular as commercial products bottled for individual daily use by children and adults. Daily rinsing with 0.05% NaF and weekly rinsing with 0.2% NaF have resulted in caries reductions of 30-40% in children (28). Because results from the two procedures have been comparable, the weekly regimen has become predominant.…”