ORAL HEALTH EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICE PROGRAM
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| Title |
Fluoride Is More Effective Than Xylitol At Preventing Caries |
| Clinical Question |
In patients susceptible to dental caries, is fluoride more effective than xylitol at preventing caries? |
| Clinical Bottom Line |
Fluoride is better than xylitol at preventing caries, but fluoride with xylitol is better than fluoride alone. |
| Best Evidence |
(you may view more info by clicking on the PubMed ID link) |
| PubMed ID |
Author / Year |
Patient Group |
Study type
(level of evidence) |
| #1) 21712620 | Rochel/2011 | 20 bovine samples | In Vitro Study of Bovine Teeth | | Key results | Fluoride performed better at preventing enamel erosion than xylitol, but fluoride plus xylitol performed better than either component alone (P=.008). | | #2) 21940519 | Takahashi/2011 | 7 patients | Randomized Control Trials | | Key results | Fluoride decreased acid production in vivo by inhibiting bacterial enolase. Xylitol did not affect acid production. P=.017 | | #3) 18341562 | Stecksen-Blicks/2008 | 160 high caries risk 10-12 year old patients | Randomized Controlled Trials | | Key results | Using lozenges with xylitol or both xylitol and fluoride did not affect the development of caries in high caries risk children. Also, there was no significant difference between the two groups (p>.05). | |
| Evidence Search |
("Fluorides"[Mesh]) AND "Xylitol"[Mesh] |
Comments on
The Evidence |
The studies listed seemed to have differing results in terms of effectiveness of fluoride versus xylitol. While it was shown that fluoride is better than xylitol at decreasing acid production, neither alone nor together did fluoride and xylitol reduce caries when given in a lozenge. |
| Applicability |
These studies are representative of the patients one would see in a general practice. One study focused on bovine enamel in vitro but was treated with artificial saliva and should still be applicable. |
| Specialty/Discipline |
(Public Health) (Dental Hygiene) |
| Keywords |
fluoride xylitol
|
| ID# |
2253 |
| Date of submission: |
04/25/2012 |
| E-mail |
wallach@livemail.uthscsa.edu |
| Author |
David Wallach |
| Co-author(s) |
|
| Co-author(s) e-mail |
|
| Faculty mentor/Co-author |
Suman Challa, BDS, MS |
| Faculty mentor/Co-author e-mail |
Challas@uthscsa.edu |
Basic Science Rationale
(Mechanisms that may account for and/or explain the clinical question, i.e. is the answer to the clinical question consistent with basic biological, physical and/or behavioral science principles, laws and research?) |
post a rationale |
| None available | |
|
Comments and Evidence-Based Updates on the CAT
(FOR PRACTICING DENTISTS', FACULTY, RESIDENTS and/or STUDENTS COMMENTS ON PUBLISHED CATs) |
post a comment |
| None available | |
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