APF foam does reduce caries in primary teeth.

DESIGN

A double-blind, cluster randomised, placebo-controlled trial was conducted.

INTERVENTION

Acidulated phosphate fluoride foam (APF; 1.23%) or placebo (fluoride-free) foam were applied by a dental practitioner twice per year for 2 years. Oral examinations were undertaken at baseline and after 2 years, following World Health Organization criteria for caries diagnosis.

OUTCOME MEASURE

Caries increment was evaluated after 2 years.

RESULTS

In total, 392 children of age 3-4 years were recruited, of whom 209 were randomised to the test group and 183 to the control. One hundred and sixty-seven test and 151 control children completed the study. There was no mean caries increment (measured as decayed, missing or filled primary teeth; dmfs) in 38.3% of test and 26.5% of control group children. The figure for dmfs was 3.8 in the test and 5.0 in the control group (P 0.03). A significant difference was also observed in caries increment on approximal surfaces between test and control groups (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Bi-annual professional application of APF foam, over 2 years, was effective in reducing caries increment in primary teeth.