Preventive Effects of Fluoride Gel Application on Dental Caries in the Permanent Tooth: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials
10.17135/jdhs.2019.19.1.9
- Author:
Kyung Yi DO
1
;
Eun Sun LEE
Author Information
1. Department of Public Health, Graduate School, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06591, Korea.
- Publication Type:Meta-Analysis
- Keywords:
Dental caries;
Fluorides;
Randomized controlled trial;
Systematic review
- MeSH:
Adolescent;
Child;
Dental Caries;
Fluorides;
Forests;
Gels;
Humans;
Outcome Assessment (Health Care);
Tooth
- From:
Journal of Dental Hygiene Science
2019;19(1):9-22
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
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.
