Six months of high-dose xylitol in high-risk caries subjects-a 2-year randomised, clinical trial.

• OBJECTIVES: The hypothesis was that the daily use of a high dose of a xylitol chewing gum for 6months would reduce the increment of decayed permanent first molar surfaces (ΔD(6)S) in high-risk schoolchildren after 2years. METHODS: In this randomised, clinical trial, 204 schoolchildren with a high caries risk were assigned to two experimental groups, xylitol and non-xylitol. Caries status, salivary mutans streptococci, and lactobacilli were re-evaluated 2years later in 74 xylitol-treated and 83 non-xylitol-treated schoolchildren. Differences in mean ∆D(6)S between groups registered at baseline and at follow-up were evaluated using the nonparametric Mann-Whitney U test. RESULTS: Outcome was the development of detectable carious lesions initial (D(1)-D(2)) and manifest (D(3)) in the permanent first molars. In the xylitol group, the difference in proportion of children with decayed first permanent molars at baseline and follow-up was 1.43% for manifest lesion and 2.86% for initial lesions; while in the non-xylitol group was 10.26% (p<0.01) and 16.66% (p<0.01), respectively. A statistically significant difference regarding means was also observed in the non-xylitol group: the ∆D(6)S for manifest lesion was 0.18 (p=0.03) and 0.67 (p=0.02) for initial lesion. CONCLUSION: The use of a chewing gum containing a high dose of xylitol for a period of 6months has been shown to produce a long-term effect on caries development in high caries-risk children. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: A school-based preventive programme based on 6months' administration of a high dose of xylitol via chewing gum proved to be efficacious in controlling caries increment in high-risk children.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Odontologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Dentistry (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

xylitol

caries

clinical trial

bacteria

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

art (ämneskategori)