Fluoride - Is it capable of fighting old and new dental diseases? An overview of existing fluoride compounds and their clinical applications

Since researchers first became aware of the anticaries action of fluoride, they have been investigating the effect of this preventive agent in inhibit ing or arresting caries development. Many forms of systemic or topical fluo ride have been studied and tested for clinical application. Water, salt, mi lk fluoridation and the use of fluoride supplements were introduced for sys temic fluoridation mainly using sodium fluoride. Solutions, gels, toothpast es and rinses of sodium fluoride, stannous fluoride, amine fluorides, acidu lated phosphate fluoride and monofluorophosphate were used for topical fluo ridation. More recently nonaqueous fluoride varnishes in an alcoholic solut ion of natural resins and difluorosilane agents in a polyurethane matrix we re introduced. Although all of these fluoridation methods have a caries-pre ventive action, these benefits and the ease of application is variable. As fluoride is a key component of oral health promotion a coordinated approach on a community and individual basis seems to be needed to maximize the cos t-benefit ratio of prevention. Copyright (C) 2001 S. Karger AG, Basel.