The effectiveness of fluoride varnishes for caries prevention for children and adolescents is well established with the recent update of the Cochrane review (Marinho et al 2013) estimating the pooled preventive fraction of 43% (95% CI 30-75%) for permanent teeth and 37% (95% CI 24-51%) for primary teeth. However although 22 trails were included there were only 10 related to primary teeth.
The aim of this study was to assess whether the application of fluoride varnish (FV) in preschool children at 6-month intervals decreases the incidence of caries lesions in the primary dentition and whether it is safe and well accepted.
Children age 1–4 years were recruited at a paediatric ambulatory clinic located in a public health centre in Rio de Janeiro. They were randomised to receive either a 5% sodium fluoride varnish or placebo varnish. Applications were undertaken by dental students following toothbrushing (without paste), isolation and drying of teeth. They were advised not to brush on day of treatment. Caries was recorded at d2 and d3 levels. The primary outcome was caries incidence as measured by the proportion of children developing any new dentine caries during the study. Paediatric dentists masked to group assignment conducted examinations at baseline and at 6-month intervals.
- 200 children were randomised. 181 (90.5%) were examined at 24 months.
- In the FV group (n = 89), 75 (84.3%) children received 4 applications, 9 (11.1%) 3 applications, 3 (3.4%) 2 applications and 2 (2.2%) 1 application.
- In the placebo group (n = 92), 78 (84.8%) children received 4 applications, 11 (11.9%) 3 applications and 3 (3.3%) 2 applications.
- Almost all participants (193; 96.5%) were exposed to fluoridated drinking water and 159 (79.5%) reported brushing their teeth with fluoride toothpaste.
- There were no significant differences between the groups in relation to new carious lesions
- FV yielded a relative risk reduction for dentine dental caries of 23% (95% CI: –9.5 to 45.9) and an absolute risk reduction of 11% (95% CI: –3.5 to 25.0) compared with the placebo.
- The preventive fraction for children was
- 28.6% (95% CI: 22.3–34.7) at the d2 level (cavitated caries lesion in enamel or in dentine)
- 28.0% (95% CI: 24.7–34.4) at the d3 level (dentine caries lesions only)
- The were 2 reported adverse effects, I related to colour of teeth the other to a burning sensation in the mouth
The authors concluded
Although safe and well accepted, twice-yearly professional FV application, during 2 years, did not result in a significant decrease in caries incidence.
Comment
Based on their findings, the authors highlight the fact that their study may well have been underpowered to detect a difference suggesting that there should have been at least 332 children per group. The updated Cochrane review was not available when this article was submitted. That review contains 8 trials of children in the 1-5 age range and included a regression analysis that suggested that there was no effect of baseline caries severity and background exposure to fluoridated water on the preventive fraction with FV use.
Links
Oliveira BH, Salazar M, Carvalho DM, Falcão A, Campos K, Nadanovsky P. Biannual Fluoride Varnish Applications and Caries Incidence in Preschoolers: A 24-month Follow-Up Randomized Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial. Caries Res. 2014 Jan 29;48(3):228-236. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 24481085
Marinho VCC, Worthington HV, Walsh T, Clarkson JE. Fluoride varnishes for preventing dental caries in children and adolescents. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2013, Issue 7. Art. No.: CD002279. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD002279.pub2.
@TheDentalElf to varnish or not varnish?