Clinical cariostatic effectiveness of a NaF rinse in a low prevalence child population

Epidemiologic studies in which oral health in schoolchildren in the nonfluoridated city of The Hague has been monitored, have revealed a substantial decrease in caries prevalence since 1969 in groups of all socioeconomic status (SES). Because of a still significantly higher caries activity in children of lower socioeconomic classes, in 1981 a weekly fluoride mouthrinsing program in these children was started. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the cariostatic effectiveness of a weekly 0.2% neutral NaF rinse in children with low caries prevalence. A sample of 29 schools stratified according to SES and randomly assigned to two groups was selected. One group of schools (14) performed weekly rinsing and the other group (15) served as controls. After 3 yr the number of children available for re-examination had dropped from 501 to 333, of which 62.2% had written parental consent for radiographic examination. Statistical analysis of the data showed that fluoride rinsing could establish a reduction in caries incidence only in children who did not use fluoride tablets. The results of this study are of special interest for health authorities in planning and implementing public dental health measures.