EFFECT OF SUPERVISED USE OF AN ALUM MOUTHRINSE ON DENTAL-CARIES INCIDENCE IN CARIES-SUSCEPTIBLE CHILDREN - A PILOT-STUDY

Aluminum salts have demonstrated anticaries activity in a number of la boratory and animal studies. The aim of this double-blind, pilot, clin ical trial was to evaluate the effect of an alum (Al) mouthrinse on de ntal caries formation both by itself and in combination with an ADA-ap proved sodium fluoride (F) dentifrice. A total of 260 caries-prone chi ldren residing in a low-F area were preselected for the study and scor ed independently for caries by two experienced examiners. After using gender, age, and initial DMFT(S) scores for baseline stratification, t he subjects were assigned to one of three treatment regimens: (1) plac ebo mouthrinse and F dentifrice, (2) Al mouthrinse and placebo dentifr ice, and (3) Al mouthrinse and F dentifrice. The alum mouthrinse conta ined 500 ppm Al and the sodium fluoride dentifrice contained 1100 ppm F. Rinsing was supervised at school on weekdays for 30 sec/day, while the dentifrices were used ad libitum at home. Subjects were reexamined far caries and oral health after six and twelve months. Both examiner s found that children who used the Al mouthrinse, in conjunction with either placebo or F dentifrices, had lower caries incidence than those who used the placebo mouthrinse/F dentifrice combination; but the dif ferences were statistically significant for only one of the examiners. No evidence of deleterious effects to the oral tissues was observed. The results of this pilot clinical trial demonstrated that daily super vised use of an alum mouthrinse inhibited caries development in decay- prone children at least as effectively as a F dentifrice.