Fluoride Essay

Group H: Ryan Butchey, Veenay Maharaj, Meagan Thorpe The effectiveness of fluoride use, with respect to improving oral health, has been proven extensively in the scientific literature. There is strong evidence that allowing fluoride to become part of the tooth structure (formation of fluorapatite) allows the tooth itself to become more resilient to dental caries. The population can be exposed to the beneficial effects of fluoride in several ways. Fluoride exposure can be broadly categorized into systemic and topical fluoride. The following is a literature review on the effectiveness of both topical and systemic applications of fluoride. The mechanisms of action of fluoride are (i) inhibition of demineralization at the crystal surfaces, (ii)

The ADA’s recommendation for fluoride dosages balances the positives and negatives associated with systemic fluoride; the negative effect mainly being dental fluorosis.[10] Early fluoride supplement studies showed that fluoride supplements in chewable tablet form or lozenge form is an effective way to reduce dental decay rates. Only one study separated the topical from systemic effects when using fluoride supplements.[12] This study, though limited, demonstrates that the systemic effects of supplements may be similar to that of lozenges(which would have both systemic and topical

There are several fluoride vehicles that can be used and take the form of varnishes, pastes, gels, foams and mouth rinses. The main goal of the clinician is the find the best treatment option for the patient based on their health history and vulnerability to oral disease. Through the use of journals such as Medline and the Cochrane Library, a panel of experts were able to develop a summary table that can be used as a chair side resource to the clinician. This aids in the dental clinician’s decision making and whether or not to use topical fluoride based on the patient’s health and the practioners’ own expertise.