Fluoride gels reduce caries incidence by 20 percent

Objectives To assess the overall caries inhibiting effect of clinical fluoride gel treatment studies and to explore factors potentially modifying an effect. Data Sources A Medline search was conducted between 1965 and 1995 using the key words ‘fluoride’, ‘gel’ and ‘(dental) caries’ for English and German language studies. Study selection Papers not related to coronal caries were excluded leaving 40 for consideration. Only randomised controlled trials in permanent teeth of children 6–15 with caries incidence data at surface level, with effect evaluation at the end of the application period were included leaving 19 papers. Data extraction and synthesis Some standard deviation and standard errors were missing for 5 studies: these were estimated using. The prevented fraction and the number needed to treat was calculated. Results The prevented fraction for the overall group is 20% (95% CI 19.3–21.5%). The tables show the numbers needed to treat (NNT) and preventive fraction for trays and brushes separately, together with the overall NNT and NNTs at different levels of disease. Conclusions The overall prevented fraction of fluoride gel treatments was found to be 20%. Van Rijkom H M, Truin G J, Van't Hof M A. A meta-analysis of clinical studies on the caries inhibiting effect of fluoride gel treatment. Caries Res. 1998; 32: 83–92