DT News - UK - Study evaluates effect of fluoride on children’s teeth

Dental Tribune International

Tue. 24 February 2015

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BELFAST, UK: Aimed at reducing childhood caries levels in the region, the Northern Ireland Caries Prevention in Practice Trial (NIC-PIP) has been investigating the effects of fluoride varnish and fluoride toothpaste used over a three-year period. The first results of the unique long-term study are expected in July.

The trial, funded by the Health Technology Assessment Programme of the National Institute for Health Research, involves over 1,200 children aged 2–4 treated at 22 dental practices in Northern Ireland. Michael Donaldson, Head of Dental Services at the Health and Social Care Board, told Dental Tribune Online: “The study is a randomised clinical trial. We are testing an intervention of six-monthly application of fluoride varnish combined with home use of adult strength fluoride toothpaste against standard oral hygiene advice.”

In order to ensure that the effects of the varnish and toothpaste can be accurately measured, community dental staff from the five Northern Ireland health trusts are taking part in dental training sessions and calibration exercises, which are being carried out in accordance with national protocols for epidemiological assessment of children’s teeth.

NIC-PIP is aimed at improving children’s dental health using preventative measures that will lead to the reduction of tooth decay and severe caries interventions. Solveig Noble, Clinical Director of Community Dental Services at the Northern Health and Social Care Trust, explained: “As community dentists, we see young children in pain from advanced tooth decay on a daily basis. At this stage the only option is dental extractions under general anaesthetic in hospital. This is extremely traumatic for the child and their parents and often leads to increased anxiety for future dental treatment.”

Northern Ireland has the highest level of childhood dental decay in the UK. According to the 2003 Children’s Dental Health survey (the 2013 data is expected to be published at the end of March), 61 per cent of 5-year-olds in the region had obvious decay experience in the primary teeth, compared with 41 per cent in England and 52 per cent in Wales.

“If this trial is able to prove effectiveness and cost effectiveness of topical fluorides in dental practice, it will change how we care for young dental patients and, in time, markedly reduce the amount of dental decay experienced by young children. It will also shift the focus of our dental service to preventive care,” stated Donaldson.

Currently, NIC-PIP is undertaking the final training and calibration exercises required to measure the changes in children’s caries status after participating in the programme for three years. The fieldwork for the study will conclude in July 2015.

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