Professionally Applied Fluoride Gel in Low-caries 10.5-year-olds

Abstract

The question has been raised whether low-caries children regularly using fluoride toothpaste will benefit from the professional application of additional fluoride gel. To investigate the caries-reducing effect of semi-annually-applied neutral 1% sodium fluoride gel, we carried out a double-blind randomized controlled clinical trial (n = 594) in a child population, initially aged 9.5–11.5 years, with baseline caries experience of D₃MFS = 0 (decayed, missing, and filled tooth surfaces of permanent teeth). The mean number of tooth surfaces saved from caries development by fluoride gel application after 4 years was 0.2 D₃MFS (SE = 0.17). The preventive fraction (PF) showed a mean relative effect of professionally applied fluoride gel of 18%. The cariostatic effect of the fluoride gel on pits and fissures would have been influenced by the sealant strategy in the study. Professionally applied fluoride gel showed no statistically significant effect on mean D₃MFS score in low-caries 9.5- to 11.5-year-olds.