262868 Caries prevention through nursery-based application of fluoride varnish: A two-year follow-up study

Monday, October 29, 2012

Lin-Yang Chi, DDS, PhD , Department of Dentistry, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan, Taipei City, Taiwan
Yao Hui Huang, DDS, MDSc, FICD , School of Oral hygiene, Taipei Medical University, Taiwan, ROC, New Taipei City, Taiwan
Hsin-Kuei Lai, DDS, MS , Bureau of Health Promotion, Department of Health, Taiwan, ROC, Taichung City 40341, Taiwan
Hsu-Hsian Chen, MS , Department of Dentistry, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan, Taipei City, Taiwan
Ching-Kai Lin, DDS , Department of Dentistry, Taipei Chang Gang Memorial Hospital, Taiwan, ROC, Taipei City, Taiwan
Hsin-Chung Cheng, DDS, PhD , Department of Dentistry, Taipei Medical University, Taiwan, ROC, Taipei City, Taiwan
Yih-Jian Tsai, MD, MSc , Division of Adult and Elderly Health, Bureau of Health Promotion, Department of Health, Bureau of Health Promotion, Department of Health, Taiwan, Taichung, Taiwan
Cheng-Hwa Yao, DDS, MS , Department of Dentistry, National Defense Medical College, Taiwan, ROC, Taipei City 114, Taiwan
Background: Early childhood caries (ECC) is a preventable yet serious health threat to children in Taiwan. Fluoride has been shown to be effective in caries prevention, and the Taiwan government provided topical fluoridation service for children less than 5 years old twice a year since 2004.

Objective: To evaluate the caries prevention effect of nursery-based application of fluoride varnish on Taiwanese preschool children.

Method: From 2008 to 2010, 175 preschool children from 5 nurseries in Taiwan were invited to join this study after informed consents were signed by their parents. 115 children were assigned to the experiment group and received oral health education and fluoride varnish (DuraphatŪ) every 6 months for 2 years. 60 children were in the comparison group and received oral health education only. All children received oral health examination to record their defs index by trained dentists.

Findings: The results showed that the mean number of tooth surfaces affected by new carious lesion in the experiment group (3.40) was significantly lower than that of the control group (7.00)(P=0.016). There was a significant caries prevention effect of fluoride varnish for preschool children. No serious side effect of the fluoride varnish applied was reported by the parents.

Key Conclusion: Nursery-based ECC prevention program with fluoride varnish is effective in preventing ECC and well-accepted by the children and their carers. Strategies to facilitate adoption of the program by more nurseries need to be worked out by the government to promote children's oral health.

Learning Areas:
Conduct evaluation related to programs, research, and other areas of practice
Public health or related public policy

Learning Objectives:
Evaluate the effect of caries prevention of a nursery-based fluoride varnish program

Keywords: Child Health Promotion, Oral Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: dental caries prevention of fluride varnish (Duraphat_TM)

Not Answered

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