invert-sugar and Dental-Caries

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).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Topics: Cariogenic Agents; Child, Preschool; Dental Caries; Dietary Carbohydrates; DMF Index; Double-Blind Method; Feeding Behavior; Fluorides, Topical; Food Analysis; Fructose; Glucose; Humans; Lactobacillus; Patient Compliance; Radiography; Sodium Fluoride; Streptococcus mutans; Sucrose; Sweden

The progression of caries lesions over a 2-yr period was studied in 3-6-yr-olds. All 468 children included in the study lived in an area during 1977-85 (Malmö, Sweden) with a low fluoride concentration (0.2 ppm) in the drinking water. Radiographs were taken with a standardized periodic identical technique. Caries lesions were scored on the distal surface of the first and on the mesial surface of the second primary molars (maximum 8 per child) according to Gröndahl et al. Half of the children were treated semiannually with a fluoride varnish (Duraphat). In all, 421 surfaces with caries at baseline were available at the 1-yr examination and 369 at the 2-yr examination. After 1 yr, 34.1% of the shallow enamel lesions remained unchanged, while a progression was seen in 60.9%. 5.1% had been restored. The corresponding figures after 2 yr were 20.6, 52.1 and 27.3%. Of the deeper enamel lesions at baseline, 28.8% remained unchanged after 1 yr and 13.7% after 2 yr. Of the lesions extending into the dentin, 81.5% had been restored after 1 yr and all after 2 yr. When evaluating the effect of Duraphat, only the percentage of individuals with one or more superficial enamel lesions showing progression was determined. After 1 yr, 51.2% in the Duraphat (n = 41) and 82.8% in the control group (n = 29) showed progression (restored surfaces included). The corresponding figures after 2 yr were 66.7 (n = 42) and 91.2% (n = 34). The differences after both 1 yr and 2 yr were statistically significant.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Topics: Child; Child, Preschool; Dental Caries; Dental Enamel; Dentin; Dietary Carbohydrates; DMF Index; Fluorides, Topical; Fructose; Glucose; Humans; Molar; Radiography, Bitewing; Sodium Fluoride; Sucrose; Tooth, Deciduous

Topics: Animals; Beverages; Cariogenic Agents; Dental Caries; Dental Plaque; Fructose; Glucose; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Rats; Rats, Inbred Strains; Sucrose; Time Factors

Topics: Animals; Cariogenic Agents; Dental Caries; Female; Fructose; Glucose; Rats; Streptococcus mutans; Sucrose