Effectiveness of fluoride dentifrice on preventing and arresting root caries : A meta-analysis

Abstract

Effectiveness of fluoride dentifrice on preventing and arresting root caries: A meta-analysis is a secondary data research on arresting and preventing root caries by using fluoride dentifrice. Since root caries is a common problem in older adults that is showing the increasing trend, it makes sense to investigate the preventive effect of fluoride on dental caries in this population group. Objective: To compare the preventive effects of fluoride dentifrice at different concentrations on new root caries lesions and to evaluate the effectiveness of fluoride dentifrice of different concentrations in arresting existing root caries lesions. Methods: The study complies PICO framework. Inclusion criteria were a randomized controlled trial study on root caries lesion in comparison of fluoride dentifrice to non-fluoride dentifrice conducted participants who be able to brush their own teeth, the article was in English or Thai language publication, and years of publication was between 1980 to February 2024. Articles were searched from 5 electronic databases: PubMed, EMBASE, Science Direct, Cochrane Library and ThaiJo. JADAD scale was used for risk of bias assessment. The meta-analysis was done in both fixed and random effect models. Results: There were 1,638 studies from 5 electronic databases under inclusion and exclusion criteria. After fully reviewing, only 3 studies left for the meta-analysis method. 2,749 lesions were included in the studies. The analysis showed a superior effect of 5,000 ppm fluoride dentifrice on arrested root caries lesions about 2.17-2.18 times higher than those containing less than 5,000 ppm fluoride (95%CI : 1.97,2.40). Limitation was data analysis difficulties because of a small number of studies included in the meta-analysis.