EVALUATION OF A FORTNIGHTLY SCHOOL-BASED SODIUM-FLUORIDE MOUTHRINSE 4YEARS FOLLOWING ITS CESSATION

The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of a school -based fortnightly 0.2% sodium fluoride mouthrinse programme after chi ldren ceased to participate. The programme, which commenced at age 6 a nd ceased at age 12, was investigated 4 years following its cessation. Three groups of 12-year-olds and three groups of 16-year-olds were ex amined, i.e. children who had participated in the mouthrinse, those at tending non-participating nearby schools and lifetime residents of a f luoridated community. Significant differences in mean DMFT in the 12-y ear-olds between the mouthrinse and the control group were not found i n the 16-year-old group, Mean DMFT for the mouthrinse group and those in a fluoridated community (which were the same in 12-year-olds) showe d a statistically significant difference in those aged 16. Most caries found, both in 12-year-olds and in 12-year-olds, occurred on molar te eth and was found on pit and fissure surfaces. The cessation of these programmes at age 12 should be reappraised and the combination of scho ol-based fluoride mouthrinse programmes with a fissure sealing program me is recomended.