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Evidence summaries

Fluoride Gels for Preventing Dental Caries in Children and Adolescents

Fluoride gels applied at least once a year appear to inhibit caries in children and adolescents. Level of evidence: "B"

A Cochrane review [Abstract] 1 included 25 studies with a total of 7 747 subjects. There is clear evidence of a caries-inhibiting effect of fluoride gel. The best estimate of the magnitude of this effect, based on the 14 placebo-controlled trials, is a 21% reduction (95% CI, 14 to 28%) in change in decayed, missing and filled tooth surfaces (D(M)FS).This corresponds to an NNT of 2 (95% CI, 1 to 3) to avoid 1 D(M)FS in a population with a caries increment of 2.2 D(M)FS/year, or an NNT of 24 (95% CI, 18 to 36) based on an increment of 0.2 D(M)FS/year.

Comment: The quality of evidence is downgraded by study limitations; more than 20% loss to follow up.

    References

    • Marinho VC, Higgins JP, Logan S, Sheiham A. Fluoride gels for preventing dental caries in children and adolescents. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2002;(2):CD002280. [PubMed]

Primary/Secondary Keywords