Fluoride retention following topical fluoride foam and gel application
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Acidulated phosphate fluoride (APF) gel resulted in higher oral fluoride retention than APF foam in children. Sponge-lined trays and subsequent applications also decreased fluoride retention.
Area of Science:
- Dentistry
- Pediatric Dentistry
- Public Health
Background:
- Topical fluoride applications are crucial for preventing dental caries in children.
- Understanding fluoride retention is key to optimizing preventive strategies.
- Acidulated phosphate fluoride (APF) is a common form used in dental settings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare oral fluoride retention between APF foam and APF gel applications in children.
- To evaluate the impact of tray type (sponge-lined vs. unlined) on fluoride retention.
- To assess age-related differences in fluoride retention.
Main Methods:
- Fifty-nine children aged 6-13 years received randomized topical APF foam and gel applications.
- Fluoride retention was measured after 4-minute applications using either sponge-lined or unlined trays.
- Fluoride amounts applied, recovered, and retained were calculated for each treatment.
Main Results:
- APF gel applications resulted in significantly higher fluoride retention (2.53 mg F) compared to APF foam (1.26 mg F).
- Sponge-lined trays significantly reduced fluoride retention compared to unlined trays.
- No significant difference in fluoride retention was observed between the two age groups (6-9 and 10-13 years).
- Fluoride retention decreased significantly from the first to the second appointment when unlined trays were used.
Conclusions:
- APF gel leads to greater oral fluoride retention than APF foam in children.
- Sponge-lined trays reduce fluoride retention, potentially indicating less effective application or increased swallowing.
- Age does not significantly influence fluoride retention in the studied pediatric groups.
- Further research is needed to determine the clinical implications of these findings on caries prevention.
Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to compare the oral fluoride (F) retention following acidulated phosphate fluoride (APF) foam and gel applications in children. Fifty-nine children were divided into two groups, 6-9 years old and 10-13 years old. They each received a randomly assigned sequence of topical F foam and gel applications in two consecutive visits, using either sponge-lined or unlined trays. Approximately 0.6-0.8 g of APF foam, or 3-4 g of APF gel was used in each of the 4-min F applications. The amounts of F applied, recovered from the mouth, and retained were calculated for each treatment. The retention of an average of 1.26 mg F after an APF foam application was significantly less than 2.53 mg F for the APF gel. The sponge-lined trays also reduced significantly the F retention, compared with unlined trays. However, there was no significant difference in the amount of F retained between the two different age groups. The amount of F retained was reduced significantly from 3.65 mg F in the first appointment, to 1.24 mg F in the second appointment when unlined trays were used.