TABLE 5.
Evidence statements for professionally applied and prescription-strength, home-use topical fluorides used for caries prevention.
| AGENT | AGE GROUP (YEARS) OR DENTITION AFFECTED | EVIDENCE STATEMENT | LEVEL OF CERTAINTY | NET BENEFIT RATING |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Varnish (2.26 Percent Fluoride) | Younger than 6 | There is a benefit of 2.26 percent fluoride varnish application at least twice per year for caries prevention. | Moderate | Benefit outweighs potential harm |
| 6-18 | There is a benefit of 2.26 percent fluoride varnish application at least twice per year for caries prevention. | Moderate | Benefit outweighs potential harm | |
| Adult root caries | There is a benefit of 2.26 percent fluoride varnish application at least twice per year for root caries prevention in adults. | Low | Benefit outweighs potential harm | |
| Varnish (0.1 Percent Fluoride) | Younger than 6 | There is no benefit of 0.1 percent fluoride varnish application twice per year for caries prevention. | Moderate | No benefit |
| 6-18 | There is no benefit of applying 0.1 percent fluoride varnish three times per year for caries prevention. | Low | No benefit | |
| APF* Gel (1.23 Percent Fluoride) | Younger than 6 | There is a benefit of APF gel (1.23 percent fluoride) application up to every three months for four† minutes for caries prevention. | Low | Potential harm outweighs benefit |
| 6-18 | There is a benefit of APF gel (1.23 percent fluoride) application up to every three months for four† minutes for caries. | Moderate | Benefit outweighs potential harm | |
| Adult root caries | There is a benefit of APF gel (1.23 percent fluoride) application twice per year for four† minutes to prevent root caries. | Low | Benefit outweighs potential harm | |
| Prophylaxis Before APF Gel (1.23 Percent Fluoride) Application | Younger than 6 | There is no benefit from conducting a prophylaxis prior to APF gel (1.23 percent fluoride) application for caries prevention. | Low | No benefit |
| 6-18 | There is no benefit from conducting a prophylaxis prior to APF gel (1.23 percent fluoride) application for caries prevention. | Moderate | No benefit | |
| APF Foam (1.23 Percent Fluoride) | Younger than 6 | There is a benefit of APF foam (1.23 percent fluoride) application twice per year for four† minutes for caries prevention. | Low | Potential harm outweighs benefit |
| 6-18 | There is no benefit of 1.23 percent APF foam application twice per year for four‡ minutes for caries prevention. | Low | No benefit | |
| Prophylaxis Pastes Containing Fluoride | Younger than 6 | There is no benefit of prophylaxis paste containing fluoride application for four minutes twice per year for caries prevention. | Low | No benefit |
| 6-18 | There is no benefit of prophylaxis paste containing fluoride application for four minutes twice per year for caries prevention. | Moderate | No benefit | |
| Prescription-Strength, Home-Use (0.5 Percent Fluoride) Gel or Paste | Younger than 6 | There is a benefit of prescription-strength, home-use (0.5 percent fluoride) gel or paste application twice daily for caries prevention. | Low | Potential harm outweighs benefit |
| 6-18 | There is a benefit of prescription-strength, home-use (0.5 percent fluoride) gel or paste application twice daily for caries prevention. | Low | Benefit outweighs potential harm | |
| Adult root caries | There is a benefit of prescription-strength, home-use (0.5 percent fluoride) gel or paste application twice daily in preventing root caries. | Low | Benefit outweighs potential harm | |
| Prescription-Strength, Home-Use (0.09 Percent Fluoride) Mouthrinse | 6-18 | There is a benefit of using prescription-strength, home-use (0.09 percent fluoride) mouthrinse daily or weekly for caries prevention. | Moderate | Benefit outweighs potential harm |
| Adult root caries | There is a benefit of using prescription-strength, home-use (0.09 percent fluoride) mouthrinse for root caries prevention among elderly people living in long-term care facilities. | Low | Benefit outweighs potential harm |