FLUORIDE VARNISH VERSUS ACIDULATED PHOSPHATE FLUORIDE GEL - A 5-YEAR CLINICAL-TRIAL

The aim of this trial was to compare the caries-preventive effect of s odium fluoride varnish and acidulated phosphate fluoride (APF) gel. A total of 254 children aged 12-13 years with high past caries experienc e were randomly divided into two groups. The participants received sem i-annual applications of either fluoride varnish or APF gel for 3 year s. During the study, the mean (+/- SD) total DMFS increments of the va rnish and gel groups were 6.8+/-5.6 and 7.7+/-6.4, respectively, when initial caries was included, and 3.1+/-3.7 and 3.6+/-4.6 when initial caries was excluded. The difference was most evident on the approximal surfaces (varnish: 1.4+/-2.4; gel: 1.9+/-3.1). However, this differen ce was not statistically significant. Although larger studies are need ed for firm conclusions about the comparative effect of the two fluori de measures, the results suggest that fluoride varnish is as effective as fluoride gel at least in preventing approximal caries. Taking into account the shorter treatment time, using fluoride varnish for profes sional applications seems justified.