Caries-inhibiting effect of professional fluoride gel application in low-caries children initially aged 4.5-6.5 years

It was the purpose of the study to investigate the caries-reducing effect of semi-annual professional fluoride gel application in a low-caries child population initially aged 4.5-6.5 years during a 4-year follow-up period. In a double-blind randomised controlled trial (n = 773) the effect of sodium fluoride gel on D3MFS and d3mfs was compared with a placebo gel. The mean caries reduction of professionally applied fluoride gel after 4 years in subjects with baseline caries experience D3MFS = 0 as well as d3mfs = 0 was 0.08 D3MFS (SE = 0.06) and 0.36 d3mfs (SE = 0.22). The prevented fraction for D3MFS and d3mfs was 26% (SE = 16%) and 20% (SE = 11%), respectively. It was concluded that in the investigated low-caries 4.5- to 6.5-year-olds, fluoride gel treatment showed a statistically significant (tested one-sided) caries-inhibiting effect on D3MFS, which was considered not clinically relevant, and no significant effect on d3mfs.