Fluoride varnish application in school setting did not reduce caries in first permanent molars

Photograph of carious teeth

The aim of this cluster randomised controlled trial was to measure the effectiveness of fluoride varnish as a public health intervention to prevent caries in the first permanent molars of 7- and 8-year-old children when delivered in the school setting. Schools that agreed to participate were randomized into test and reference groups by the study [read the full story…]

School-based use of xylitol/maltitol or erythritol/maltitol lozenges in low caries area had no additional caries preventive effect

Photograph of carious teeth

The aim of the study was to investigate whether, in a school-based setting in a low caries prevalence population xylitol/maltitol  or erythritol/maltitol conferred any additional caries preventive effect. Xylitol is a non-fermentable sugar alcohol Erythritol is a noncaloric tetritol (tetrahydroxy alcohols) with about  70% of the sweetness of  sucrose. Maltitol is generally considered an inert [read the full story…]

MI Paste Plus helped prevent the development of new white spot lesions during orthodontic treatment

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The aim of this trial was to determine the effectiveness of a new product, MI Paste Plus (GC America, Alsip, Ill), in the prevention or reduction of white spot lesions in orthodontic patients. 60 patients aged 12 and over who were undergoing routine orthodontic treatment were randomized to receive either M1 paste (n=26) or placebo [read the full story…]

New systematic review protocols for periodontal disease and caries prevention

Logo of The Cochrane Collaboration

Two new systematic review protocols have been published in the Cochrane Library recently.  This indicates research in progress, of course, and we would not expect results to be published for some time.  However, people who are investigating these topic areas may like to know that a review is under way. The full text of each [read the full story…]

In high caries risk children; fluoride varnish, maternal counselling and chlorhexidine mouthwash as effective as varnish and counselling

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Early childhood caries (ECC) is  a common chronic childhood disease and a serious concern for child welfare.  In the USA its incidence has increased from 24% to 28%  in recent decades.  The aim of this study  was to  compare an intensive early intervention caries prevention strategy against a more limited control intervention. At 4 months [read the full story…]

Non-fluoride agents may provide some adjunctive benefit to those at higher risk of caries

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The use of topical fluoride together with  fluoridated water and fissure sealants are mainstays of caries management.  A range of non-fluoride agents  caries preventive agents are also in use and these are reviewed to provide  evidence-based clinical recommendations. The authors evaluated studies of sucrose-free polyol chewing gums, xylitol dentifrices, chlorhexidine, chlorhexidine in combination with thymol, [read the full story…]

Weak evidence for the effectiveness of chlorhexidine varnish on root caries

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While root caries can be seen in young people its frequency increases with age. The growing older populations in many developing countries means that root caries is likely to be an increasing problem.  The aim of this review was to see if chlorhexidine varnish (CHX-V)  is effective for treating root caries. The authors searched Medline, [read the full story…]

Topical fluoride is effective in preventing caries in moderate and high caries risk adults

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While dental caries in usually associated with children it is still a common problem for adults.  Several systematic reviews have evaluated the use of fluorides for the prevention of caries in children but fewer of fluoride use in adults.  The aim of this review was to evaluate the research regarding professional and/or supplemental self-applied fluoride [read the full story…]

Hall Technique for carious primary molars outperformed standard restorations at 5 years

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In the Hall Technique  carious primary molars are managed by sealing decay under preformed metal crowns without any caries removal, tooth preparation, or local anaesthesia.  The aim of the study was to compare the clinical/radiographic failure rates of the Hall Technique (HT) against General Dental Practitioners’ (GDPs) standard (control) restorations. This split-mouth study involved 132 [read the full story…]

Compliant high risk children benefited from twice weekly supervised high fluoride gel brushing programme

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Despite continuing improvements in dental health considerable inequalities remain with highest levels of disease amongst children living in the most materially disadvantaged areas. The main aim this study was to assess the caries-preventive efficacy of  a 2 years  twice weekly supervised brushingprogramme using a self-applied gel containing 12,500 ppm fluoride on schooldays compared with weekly [read the full story…]