Effect of combined caries‐preventive methods: a systematic review of controlled clinical trials

Authors

  • Susanna Axelsson The Swedish Council on Technology Assessment in Health Care, Stockholm, Sweden
  • Birgitta Söder Departments of Periodontology, Geriatric Dentistry, and Cariology, Institute of Odontology, Karolinska Institute, Huddinge, Sweden
  • Gunilla Nordenram Oral & Maxillofacial Unit, Central Hospital, Halmstad, Sweden
  • Lars Petersson National Institute of Public Health, Stockholm, Sweden
  • Helena Dahlgren Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Eastman Dental Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
  • Anders Norlund Faculty of Odontology, Centre for Oral Health Sciences, Malmö University, Malmö, Sweden
  • Carina Källestål Department of Cariology, Faculty of Odontology, Sahlgrenska Academy at Göteborg University, Göteborg, Sweden
  • Ingegerd Mejàre Department of Pedodontics, Department of Odontology, Dental School, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
  • Peter Lingström The Swedish Council on Technology Assessment in Health Care, Stockholm, Sweden
  • Folke Lagerlöf Departments of Periodontology, Geriatric Dentistry, and Cariology, Institute of Odontology, Karolinska Institute, Huddinge, Sweden
  • Anna‐Karin Holm Oral & Maxillofacial Unit, Central Hospital, Halmstad, Sweden
  • Svante Twetman National Institute of Public Health, Stockholm, Sweden

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1080/00016350410006842

Keywords:

Caries risk, dental caries, intervention programs, prevention

Abstract

The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the caries‐preventive effect of combined caries‐preventive methods, defined as two or more different interventions in combination, each expected to prevent dental caries. The Medline database was searched for articles published in the period January 1966 to June 2003. Twenty‐four controlled studies met the inclusion criteria, and their value as evidence was assessed according to predetermined criteria. The level of evidence for the overall conclusion regarding each method was graded according to the protocol of the Swedish Council on Technology Assessment in Health Care. The scientific evidence for the combination of treatments involving fluoride that had a preventive effect on caries in children and adolescents was graded as moderate. However, for elderly patients the scientific evidence for the caries‐preventive effect of different combinations of treatments was found to be incomplete. No conclusion could be drawn regarding the evidence for combinations of treatments being effective for groups at high caries risk, as the results from the identified clinical studies were conflicting.

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Published

2004-01-01

Issue

Vol. 62 No. 3 (2004): Acta Odontologica Scandinavica

Section

Articles