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Effect of xylitol and xylitol–fluoride lozenges on approximal caries development in high‐caries‐risk children
Author(s) -
STECKSÉNBLICKS CHRISTINA,
HOLGERSON PERNILLA LIF,
TWETMAN SVANTE
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
international journal of paediatric dentistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.183
H-Index - 62
eISSN - 1365-263X
pISSN - 0960-7439
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-263x.2007.00912.x
Subject(s) - xylitol , medicine , dentistry , lozenge , fluoride , incidence (geometry) , food science , inorganic chemistry , chemistry , physics , archaeology , fermentation , optics , history
Aim. To evaluate the effect of xylitol‐ and xylitol/fluoride‐containing lozenges on approximal caries development in young adolescents with high caries risk. Study design. A 2‐year double‐blind trial with two parallel arms and a nonrandomized reference group. Material and methods. One hundred and sixty healthy 10‐ to 12‐year‐old children with high caries risk were selected. After informed consent, they were randomly assigned into a xylitol and a xylitol/fluoride group. They were instructed to take two tablets three times a day (total xylitol and fluoride dose 2.5 g and 1.5 mg, respectively). The compliance was checked continuously and scored as good, fair, or poor. A reference no‐tablet group was also selected ( n = 70) for group comparison. The outcome measure was approximal caries incidence. Results. The dropout rate was 28%, and 41% exhibited a good compliance with the study protocol. No statistically significant differences in caries incidence could be found between the study groups ( P > 0.05). Among a subgroup of children who demonstrated good compliance, the mean ΔDMFSa value was significantly lower in the xylitol/fluoride group compared to the xylitol group, 1.0 ± 2.3 vs. 3.3 ± 4.6 ( P < 0.05), while no difference could be displayed between any of the study groups and the reference group ( P > 0.05). Conclusion. The results from this 2‐year trial did not support a self‐administered regimen of xylitol‐ or xylitol/fluoride‐containing lozenges for the prevention of approximal caries in young adolescents with high caries risk.