– The caries preventive effect of topical application of fluoride varnish (Duraphat), ferric‐aluminum‐fluoride solution (FeAlF) and chlorhexidine gel was compared in a 2‐yr clinical study. Children with more than 106 mutans streptococci per ml saliva were selected and a total of 189 13‐yr‐old children participated in the study. The children in the fluoride groups were treated every third month with either Duraphat or FeAlF‐solution. In the chlorhexidine group children with more than 2.5 × 105 mutans streptococci per ml of saliva were treated every third month. The mean number of new decayed and filled tooth surfaces was 3.06 in the chlorhexidine group, 5.88 in the Duraphat group, 5.33 in the FeAlF group, and 6.34 in the control group. Thus supervised antimicrobial treatment can significantly reduce the incidence of dental (caries) in children with high numbers of mutans streptococci.

No abstract

The occurrence of dental caries on adjacent approximal molar and premolar tooth surfaces was examined on posterior bitewing radiographs. More distal surfaces of the first permanent molars were decayed than adjacent mesial surfaces of the second molars. The appearance of dental caries on adjacent premolar surfaces was related to the order of eruption; the surface that had erupted first was likely to be decayed first. Reports from other studies on adjacent approximal surfaces indicate that this conclusion has a general bearing. It therefore seems important to increase the caries resistance of already erupted teeth by preventive means before and during the eruption of adjacent teeth.