Preventive Effects of Fluoride Gel Application on Dental Caries in the Permanent Tooth: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials / 치위생과학회지
Journal of Dental Hygiene Science
; (6): 9-22, 2019.
Article
in En
| WPRIM
| ID: wpr-764405
Responsible library:
WPRO
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
The purpose of this systematic review was to investigate the effects of topical fluoride gel application on dental caries prevention in the permanent teeth of children and adolescents.METHODS:
We searched the EMBASE, PubMed, and Cochrane Library databases for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing the effects of self-applied or professionally applied topical fluoride gels in patients <18 years of age; the search was completed on April 1, 2018. All included trials involved an experimental group (fluoride gel application) and a control group (placebo or no treatment). The outcome measures were the D(M)FS and D(M)FT indices, which were compared between the two groups. Review Manager software was used for quantitative synthesis of the final selected articles, and a forest plot was generated via a meta-analysis conducted using a random effects model.RESULTS:
The results showed that the D(M)FS and D(M)FT indices were lower in the fluoride application group than in the control group, thus indicating that fluoride gel application was effective in dental caries prevention. We also performed a subgroup analysis to determine whether the effects of fluoride application differed if patients received oral prophylaxis (self or professional) before fluoride gel application. Therefore, the two groups showed slightly larger differences when studies without oral prophylaxis before fluoride gel application were considered; however, the difference was not statistically significant.CONCLUSION:
These findings should be utilized to raise awareness about the caries-prevention effects of topical fluoride application among patients and guardians. Further RCTs should evaluate the effects of fluoride application with or without preceding oral prophylaxis, and appropriate fluoride application guidelines should be developed to maximize the effects of fluoride application in clinical practice.Key words
Full text:
1
Index:
WPRIM
Main subject:
Tooth
/
Forests
/
Outcome Assessment, Health Care
/
Dental Caries
/
Fluorides
/
Gels
Type of study:
Clinical_trials
/
Guideline
/
Prognostic_studies
/
Systematic_reviews
Limits:
Adolescent
/
Child
/
Humans
Language:
En
Journal:
Journal of Dental Hygiene Science
Year:
2019
Type:
Article