A two-year comparison of three topical fluoride agents.

Abstract

A 2-year clinical study in Western New York State on 483 school children, ages 7-11 years, comparing the caries-preventive effect of 3 commonly used topical fluoride agents, viz. 2% aqueous NaF, 4% SnF2, and 2% acidulated phosphate-buffered NaF (pH 4.43). The most careful procedure of topical application was used, and applications were performed twice yearly during the course of the study. The magnitude of the differences in caries reduction failed to demonstrate conclusively the superiority of any of those agents, although the 2% aqueous NaF group experienced consistently greater reductions in DMF [decayed, missing and filled] and DF [decayed and filled] tooth and surface increments. Greater protection was afforded the newly erupted teeth (those which erupted during the course of the study) with reductions ranging from 20% to 43%, the latter value representing the aqueous NaF group.