This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Øgaard, B. Articles by Rolla, G. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Øgaard, B. Articles by Rolla, G. Pubmed/NCBI databases Compound via MeSH Substance via MeSH Hazardous Substances DB CALCIUM COMPOUNDS CALCIUM FLUORIDE HYDROXYAPATITE Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Professional Topical Fluoride Applications— Clinical Efficacy and Mechanism of Action

Department of Orthodontics Faculty of Dentistry University of Oslo P.O. Box 1109, Blindem 0317 Oslo, Norway

L. Seppä

department of Preventive Dentistry and Cariology Faculty of Dentistry University of Kuopio P.O. Box 1627 SF-70211 Kuopio, Finland

G. Rolla

Department of Pedodontics and Caries Prophylaxis Faculty of Dentistry University of Oslo P.O. Box 1109, Blindem 0317 Oslo, Norway

All currently used topical fluoride agents deposit soluble fluoride as calcium fluoride on enamel or in lesions. Calcium fluoride serves as a source of fluoride for the formation of fluorapatite. The latter phase is formed when pH drops in plaque, not during topical application. The potential for calcium fluoride formation should probably be increased in topical fluoride agents. In countries with low caries prevalence, the clinical recommendations for topical fluoride need to be reconsidered. Toothpaste is the basic fluoride regimen recommended for everybody. The need for additional fluoride supplementation depends on caries activity. There is no distinct difference in the caries-preventive effects of concentrated fluoride solutions, gels, or varnishes. Thus, the choice of method depends on costs, convenience, patient acceptance, and safety. The use of fluoride varnishes has proven to be a feasible and safe method of fluoride application. With fluoride varnishes, the amounts of fluoride exposure can be better controlled, and less chair-time is required compared with conventional solutions and gels. No dose-response effect to concentrated fluoride agents is apparent, and the benefit of frequent application is not clearly established. In individuals with the most severe cariogenic challenge, combinations of fluoride and antimicrobials may give better clinical effects than fluoride alone.

Advances in Dental Research, Vol. 8, No. 2, 190-201 (1994)
DOI: 10.1177/08959374940080021001


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				R. Attin, C. Thon, U. Schlagenhauf, C. Werner, A. Wiegand, C. Hannig, and T. Attin Recolonization of mutans steptococci on teeth with orthodontic appliances after antimicrobial therapy Eur J Orthod, October 1, 2005; 27(5): 489 - 493. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. SHEN and J. AUTIO-GOLD Assessing fluoride concentration uniformity and fluoride release from three varnishes J Am Dent Assoc, February 1, 2002; 133(2): 176 - 182. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. T. AUTIO-GOLD and F. COURTS Assessing the effect of fluoride varnish on early enamel carious lesions in the primary dentition J Am Dent Assoc, September 1, 2001; 132(9): 1247 - 1253. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. Buyukyilmaz and B. Ogaard Caries-Preventive Effects of Fluoride-Releasing Materials Advances in Dental Research, December 1, 1995; 9(4): 377 - 383. [Abstract] [PDF]

				R.M. Duckworth, Y. Jones, J. Nicholson, A.P.M. Jacobson, and I.G. Chestnutt Studies on Plaque Fluoride After Use of F-Containing Dentifrices Advances in Dental Research, July 1, 1994; 8(2): 202 - 207. [Abstract] [PDF]