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Fluoride effectiveness in high caries risk and medically complex Veterans
M Marianne Jurasic1, Gretchen Gibson, Carolyn J Wehler
1Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine, Boston, MA, USA; Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial Veterans Hospital, VA Center for Healthcare Organization and Implementation Research, Bedford, MA, USA.
Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology
|July 22, 2014
Summary
Fluoride treatments significantly reduced the need for new dental restorations in high-risk Veterans. This finding is crucial for managing dental caries in medically compromised older adults.
Area of Science:
- Dental Public Health
- Geriatric Dentistry
- Preventive Dentistry
Background:
- Dental caries presents a growing challenge, particularly for aging populations.
- Years lived with disability from dental caries increased by 34.5% between 1990 and 2010.
- Baby boomers represent a significant demographic facing increased dental issues.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of prescription or professionally applied fluoride in preventing new dental restorations.
- To assess fluoride's effectiveness in a clinical setting with medically compromised patients.
- To address the dental needs of a population with higher impairment than the general public.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective cohort study utilizing Department of Veterans Affairs electronic databases.
- Propensity scores were employed to control for confounding by indication.
- Logistic regression analysis modeled outcomes with comprehensive covariate inclusion.
Main Results:
- The study included 140,114 high-caries-risk Veterans with multiple comorbidities and medications.
- Patients receiving clinical fluoride treatments showed a 17-20% reduction in the odds of needing restorations.
- This demonstrates a statistically significant protective effect of fluoride.
Conclusions:
- Both prescription self-applied and professionally applied fluoride are effective in reducing the need for new dental restorations.
- Fluoride application, whether before or during care, significantly benefits high-caries-risk, medically compromised Veterans.
- These findings support the use of fluoride as a key preventive strategy in vulnerable patient groups.
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