Table 3. Abbreviated Evidence Table of Effects of Fluoride Varnish on Primary Teeth

Study, year Country Design Age at baseline Fluoride interventions Other F exposure Blinding Attrition, % Sample size, n % Reductiona, index used NNT
Experiment Control
Holm, 197939 Sweden RCT, 2 y, alternate assignment 3.0 2.2% F Duraphat®
2/y		 71% F dentifrice,
27% F tabs		 Patients 10 113 112 44**, defs 1.2
Grodzka, 198240 Poland Comparison schools, 2 y, assignment unclear 3.5 2.2% F Duraphat®
2/y		 "low" F exposure, no professional F application None 20 100 148 5, dmfs1  
Frostell, 199141 Sweden RCT, 2 y 4.0 2.2% F Duraphat® w/wo invert sugar 2/y "most" use F dentifrice, "occasional" use of F supplements and mouth rinse Examiners Not reported 26 (sucrose)
18 (invert)
113 (neither)		 37
33
93		 +31, dmfs2
+50, dmfs2
30, dmfs2
37**, dmfs1


1.5
Twetman, 199642 Sweden Comm trial, 2 y, public clinics matched on SES 4.5 0.1% F Fluor  Protector® 2/y 0.1 ppm F in water,
95% on F dentifrice, "a few" given F supplements		 None 2 374 442 30*, dfs 4.3
Petersson, 199843 Sweden Comm trial, 2 y, public clinics matched on specified criteria 4.5 0.1% F Fluor  Protector® 2/y 10% with 1.2 ppm in water, 90% use F dentifrice None 19 1,916 2,245  6, dfs NR
Autio-Gold, 200144 United States RCT,  0.75 y 3-5 2.2% F Duraphat® 0.8 ppm F in water Patients 22 83 59 63*, dmfs1
67**, dmfs2		 0.8

aDifferences not significant unless otherwise noted.
*Different from control at P < 0.05.
**Different from control at P < 0.01.

Note: Comm indicates community; defs, decayed, extracted, and filled primary tooth surfaces; dfs, decayed, filled primary tooth surfaces; dmfs1, decayed, missing, and filled primary tooth surfaces, incipient lesions excluded; dmfs2, decayed, missing, and filled primary tooth surfaces, incipient lesions included; F, fluoride; NNT, number needed to treat; ppm, parts per million; RCT, randomized controlled trial; SES, socioeconomic status; w/wo, with or without.

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