THE EFFICACY OF AN INTRAORAL FLUORIDE-RELEASING SYSTEM IN IRRADIATED - HEAD AND NECK-CANCER PATIENTS - A PRELIMINARY-STUDY

This study compared the anticaries effectiveness of an intraoral fluor ide-releasing system, or IFRS, with a standard regimen of daily applic ation of a 1.1 percent neutral sodium fluoride gel in custom trays. Ca ries protection in subjects in the IFRS group was comparable to that i n subjects in the 1.1 percent neutral sodium fluoride group. The subje cts all had head or neck cancer and had received radiation therapy, bu t no more recently than three months before taking part in the study. Overall, IFRS devices were well-tolerated and patient satisfaction was high. The IFRS appears to offer several advantages over the daily app lication of fluoride gels in custom trays.