ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To compare the effects of a fluoride dentifrice alone, versus a topical CPP-ACP crème used as a dentifrice, versus the combination of both agents (fluoride dentifrice followed by CPP-ACP crème) on early caries lesions (ECL) in primary anterior teeth of children over a 6-month period. METHODS: In this single blinded randomised clinical trial, children (n = 114, aged 4-5 years) with high caries risk and who had at least one ECL (ICDAS 2) on their primary anterior teeth were allocated to three groups. Subjects used different agents twice daily: fluoride dentifrice (500 ppm F, n = 42), CPP-ACP crème (10% w/v, n = 35), and the fluoride dentifrice followed by CPP-ACP crème (n = 37). Changes in lesions were tracked using QLF, comparing the baseline situation to 3 and 6 months of treatment. RESULTS: QLF changes consistent with mineral gain (∆F/fluorescence, lesion area) occurred in all three groups (baseline versus 3 months or 6 months, p ≤ 0.05 for all three groups). Differences between treatment groups were not statistically significant (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The topical CPP-ACP crème used alone gave effects similar to the fluoride dentifrice; however, the combination of the two did not give additive benefits over either agent used in isolation.
