A mouthrinse formulated to fulfill physicochemical requirements for rapid remineralization of early carious lesions was investigated in vivo using intraoral appliances in adults. Human enamel slabs with artificially induced early lesions were embedded in the appliances. Complete rehardening of the inner 40–50 μm and twofold rehardening of the remaining body of the lesion occurred in 160-μm deep lesions with a 1-min mouthrinse on each of 14 consecutive days. Saliva alone rehardened the inner 20 μm only. At least the inner half of lesions 65 μm deep rehardened completely and the remaining body of the lesion rehardened fourfold over 14 days. Monofluorophosphate toothpastes, tested similarly remineralized to the same extent as saliva alone and increased the surface layer hardness. The remineralizing solution shows potential value as a daily mouthrinse for the prevention or reversal of early carious lesions.

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Results: In the years 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2000, complete

Background: In April 1992, the fluoride concentration in the Blue Mountains water supply was adjusted to 1 mg ⁄ L. Baseline dmft ⁄ DMFT has been determined in children attending schools in the region and in the adjacent reference region of Hawkesbury, fluoridated since 1968. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the water fluoridation programme in the Blue Mountains. Methods: In 2003, children attending the same schools were sampled. Residential history data were obtained by questionnaire and caries experience was assessed according to WHO guidelines. The analysis was restricted to lifelong resident children aged 5-11 years. Results: The baseline and follow-up dmft scores for Blue Mountains children aged 5-8 years were 2.36 and 0.67, respectively. The age-adjusted decrease in odds of experiencing one or more dmft due to fluoridation was 0.26 (CI 95 0.19, 0.37). The corresponding DMFT scores for Blue Mountains children aged 8-11 were 0.76 and 0.21 and the corresponding decrease in odds of experiencing one or more DMFT due to fluoridation was 0.25 (CI 95 0.16, 0.40). Conclusions: Tooth decay reduction observed in the Blue Mountains corresponds to high rates reported elsewhere and demonstrates the substantial benefits of water fluoridation.