Lee Yee Chong, Jan E Clarkson, Lorna Dobbyn-Ross, Smriti Bhakta
Context
Slow-release fluoride devices have been investigated as a potentially cost-effective method of reducing dental caries in people with high risk of disease.
Purpose of the Review
To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of different types of slow-release fluoride devices on preventing, arresting, or reversing the progression of carious lesions on all surface types of primary (deciduous) and permanent teeth.
Key Messages
- The review was first published in 2006. The update in 2013 found 302 abstracts, but none of these met the inclusion criteria of the review.
- There was no evidence found in comparing slow-release fluoride devices against other types of fluoride therapy.
- Harms were not reported within the trial report. Evidence for other outcomes sought in this review (progression to of caries lesion, dental pain, healthcare utilization data) were also not reported.
Authors’ conclusions
- There is insufficient evidence to determine the caries-inhibiting effect of slow-release fluoride glass beads. The body of evidence available is of very low quality and there is a potential overestimation of benefit to the average child.
- The applicability of the findings to the wider population is unclear; the study had included children from a deprived area that had low levels of fluoride in drinking water, and were considered at high risk of carries. In addition, the evidence was only obtained from children who still had the bead attached at two years (48% of all available children); children who had lost their slow-release fluoride devices earlier might not have benefited as much from the devices.
Could you give me some names of products that claim to be of slow flouride release benefit?