FLUORIDES IN DENTISTRY

Regular use of fluorides has been a cornerstone of preventive dentistry for many years. Today however not all children or adults seem to be at risk for dental caries. Recent epidemiological studies have shown a major decline in dental caries prevalence and a sizable increase in children who are caries-free. There are many reasons for this decline but without a doubt the use of fluoride has played a major and predominant role. Although fluorides should remain one of the cornerstones for caries prevention there is a need to determine the magnitude of their benefits under current conditions. In recent years there has been a switch from using mass caries preventive methods designed for all children in a community or school system to techniques that target the specific needs of individual children. With the growing emphasis on prevention-based dentistry topical fluoride treatment has led to early disease prevention. Primary prevention with minimal effort and maximum results can be instituted in pediatric dental practice.