Authors' objectives:

Dental caries remains a health problem for many children and adolescents in Sweden. Adults also have major care needs as a result of caries, particularly those who were not covered by preventive services while young. While the methods for preventing caries are relatively simple, considerable disagreement is found in the scientific literature about their effects, and practices among dental services vary. The report systematically reviews and critically assesses the scientific evidence concerning the preventive effects of various methods.

Authors' recommendations: There is strong scientific evidence that the daily use of fluoride toothpaste is an effective method for preventing caries in permanent teeth in children and adolescents. Toothpaste with a higher fluoride concentration (1500 ppm) shows better effects than toothpaste with 1000 ppm. Fluoride rinsing daily, weekly, or once every second week can reduce the prevalence of caries in children and adolescents, but provides no additional protection beyond that achieved by the daily use of fluoride toothpaste. Professional application of fluoride lacquer at least twice per year is effective in preventing caries in young permanent teeth, even with the concurrent use of fluoride toothpaste. Prevention programs that include the use of fluoride can help prevent caries in children and adolescents. (Caries preventive effects) The use of resin-based dental sealants to seal fissures is shown to have an effect in caries prevention. There is insufficient evidence to draw any conclusions concerning the preventive effects that fluoride tablets, sorbitol, and xylitol in chewing gum and sweets might have on dental caries, or how caries prevention should be designed for groups with special needs. No studies have reported evidence that is strong enough to permit assessment of the economic effects of interventions to prevent caries.

Authors' methods: Systematic review

Project Status: Completed

URL for project: http://www.sbu.se/Published

Year Published: 2002

English language abstract: An English language summary is available

Publication Type: Not Assigned

Country: Sweden

Organisation Name: Swedish Agency for Health Technology Assessment and Assessment of Social Services

Contact Address: P.O. Box 3657, SE-103 59 Stockholm, Sweden. Tel: +46 8 4123200, Fax: +46 8 4113260

Contact Name: registrator@sbu.se

Contact Email: registrator@sbu.se

Copyright: Swedish Council on Technology Assessment in Health Care (SBU)