Contemporary Fluoride Use in Oral Health
Background and Foundation
THE NEXT DDS
Learning Objectives
This is part I of a four-part series about fluoride on THE NEXT DDS. After hearing this podcast, the listener should:
- Understand the role of fluoride in preventing caries and preserving oral health
- Understand the concept of water fluoridation
The decline of dental caries in the United States
can logically be attributed to the widespread use of fluoride. Moreover,
fluoride is safe when used appropriately, and may be of most benefit to those
at highest risk of dental decay. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
has issued recommendations for fluoride use that highlight the need for
fluoride throughout one’s life span. Although some controversy surrounds
fluoride application, the preponderance of evidence shows that fluoride usage
can be a boon to oral health.
Related Reading:
- Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention. Recommendations for using
fluoride to prevent and control dental caries in the United States.
MMWR 2001;50 (RR-14):1-42.
- Wilkins E. Clinical practice of the
Dental Hygienist, 8th ed. Philadelphia,PA.
Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins, 1999:456.
- Rolla G, Ekstrand J. Fluoride in
Dentistry. 2nd ed. Copenhagen, Munksgaard,
1996:215-229.
- Stooky G, Schemehorn B, Drook C. The
effect of rinsing with water immediately after a professional fluoride gel
application on fluoride uptake in demineralized enamel. Pediatr Dent
1986;8:153.
- American Academy
of Periodontology. The pathogenesis of periodontal diseases. J Periodontol
1999;70:457-470.
- Rethman J. Trends in preventive care: caries risk assessment and indications for
sealants. JADA 2000: 131 (supple):
8-12s.
- Caries diagnosis and risk assessment. A
review of preventive strategies and management. JADA 1995;126(suppl):8S-12S.
- Niessen LC, Despain B. Clinical
strategies for prevention of oral diseases. J Esthet Dent 1996:8(1):3-11.
- American Academy
of Periodontology. World Workshop in Clinical Periodontics 1996;1(1):2340241.
- Mazza
J, Newman M, Sims T. Clinical and antimicrobial effect of stannous fluoride on
periodontitis. J Clin Periodontol 1981;8:203-212.
- Wieder
S, Newman H, Strahan J. Stannous fluoride and subgingival chlorhexidine
irrigation in the control of plaque and chronic periodontitis. J Clin
Periodontol 1983;10:172-181.
- Yoits
W. The action of sodium fluoride on suspected periodontopathogens. J Periodont
Res 1988;23:340-344.
- Ravald
N, Birkhed D, Hamp S. Root caries susceptibility in periodontally treated
patients. J Clin Periodontol 1993;20:124-129.
- Kaste LM, Selwitz RH, Oldakowski RJ, et al. Coronal
caries in the primary and permnent dentition of children and adolescents 1-17
years of age: United States, 1988-1991. J Dent Res 1996;75(Spec No):631-641.
- Limeback
H. A re-examination of the pre-eruptive and post-eruptive mechanism of the
anti-caries effects of fluoride: is there any anti-caries benefit from
swallowing fluoride? Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology 1999;27:62-71.