The aim was to study the effect of substitution of invert sugar for sucrose, in combination with fluoride varnish (Duraphat®) treatment twice a year, on caries development in preschool children. One hundred and eighty-seven 4-years-olds were divided randomly into four sugar groups: (1) sucrose (S), (2) sucrose-Duraphat (SD), (3) invert sugar (I), and (4) invert sugar-Duraphat (ID). All families were asked to buy beverages, biscuits, breakfast cereals, marmalade, ice cream, jam, ketchup, sweets and table sugar, totally 32 different food items, sweetened with invert sugar or sucrose. The substitution was, thus, restricted to a number of sugar-rich between-meal products. The study was carried out double-blind for 2 years. The children of those parents who did not want to participate in the sugar groups were divided randomly into one of the following two groups: (5) Duraphat (D), and control (C). Because of lack of cooperation, only 114 of the 187 children (61%) were considered to have completed the study. The mean caries increment, including initial lesions, was 3.86 dmfs in the combined groups S and SD (n = 63) and 3.10 dmfs in the combined groups I and ID (n = 51) during the 2 years (p = 0.34). The corresponding values for the 2nd year only were 1.84 and 0.67 dmfs, respectively (p = 0.09). The mean caries increment was 2.86 dmfs in group D (n = 113) and 4.10 dmfs (p = 0.08) in group C (n = 93). If initial caries lesions were excluded from the index, the difference between groups D and C was significant (p = 0.008). The main conclusion from this study in preschool children is that the use of invert sugar for 2 years instead of sucrose in sugar-rich between-meal food products resulted in a caries reduction of about 20%. The corresponding figure for the Duraphat treatment carried out twice a year was 30%.

Keywords:
Dental caries, Duraphat®, Invert sugar, Preschool children, Substitution, Sucrose
This content is only available via PDF.
© 1991 S. Karger AG, Basel
1991
Copyright / Drug Dosage / Disclaimer
Copyright: All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be translated into other languages, reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, microcopying, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Drug Dosage: The authors and the publisher have exerted every effort to ensure that drug selection and dosage set forth in this text are in accord with current recommendations and practice at the time of publication. However, in view of ongoing research, changes in government regulations, and the constant flow of information relating to drug therapy and drug reactions, the reader is urged to check the package insert for each drug for any changes in indications and dosage and for added warnings and precautions. This is particularly important when the recommended agent is a new and/or infrequently employed drug.
Disclaimer: The statements, opinions and data contained in this publication are solely those of the individual authors and contributors and not of the publishers and the editor(s). The appearance of advertisements or/and product references in the publication is not a warranty, endorsement, or approval of the products or services advertised or of their effectiveness, quality or safety. The publisher and the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to persons or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content or advertisements.
You do not currently have access to this content.