Bawden J W
Department of Pediatric Dentistry, School of Dentistry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill 27599, USA.
J Public Health Dent. 1998 Fall;58(4):266-9. doi: 10.1111/j.1752-7325.1998.tb03007.x.
Since first shown to be effective by Bibby in 1942, professionally applied topical fluorides have been used successfully as a caries-preventive intervention. In the United States, the acidulated phosphate fluoride (APF) gels have been the most widely used agent for over two decades. While effective, APF has several practical disadvantages, including unpleasant taste and the risk of fluoride overingestion. The use of APF on infants and very young children is not practical or safe. Recently, fluoride varnish has become available in the United States. It has been used widely in Europe and Scandinavia for 25 years. Its effectiveness and safety are documented in over 50 clinical trials. Fluoride varnish is easy to apply, is well accepted by children, and eliminates the risk of overingestion of fluoride. Fluoride varnish is approved by the FDA as a "device" and must be used "off label" for the prevention of caries. Because of the large body of published data documenting its effectiveness and safety, there is no legal risk in using fluoride varnish off label. In fact, the American Dental Association has granted its seal of approval to Duraphat, one of the varnish products. Varnish offers considerable advantages in the dental public health setting. Of particular note, it is practical and safe to apply to the teeth of infants and very young children.
自1942年比贝首次证明其有效性以来，专业应用的局部用氟化物已成功用作预防龋齿的干预措施。在美国，酸化磷酸氟（APF）凝胶在二十多年来一直是使用最广泛的制剂。虽然APF有效，但它有几个实际缺点，包括味道不佳和氟摄入过量的风险。对婴儿和非常年幼的儿童使用APF既不实际也不安全。最近，氟化物漆在美国已可供使用。它在欧洲和斯堪的纳维亚已经广泛使用了25年。超过50项临床试验记录了其有效性和安全性。氟化物漆易于涂抹，儿童易于接受，并且消除了氟摄入过量的风险。氟化物漆被美国食品药品监督管理局（FDA）批准为一种“器械”，必须“超适应症”使用以预防龋齿。由于大量已发表的数据记录了其有效性和安全性，超适应症使用氟化物漆没有法律风险。事实上，美国牙科协会已批准其中一种氟化物漆产品Duraphat。氟化物漆在口腔公共卫生环境中具有相当大的优势。特别值得注意的是，将其应用于婴儿和非常年幼儿童的牙齿既实际又安全。
