Reactor paper concerning patient selection and appliance design in intra-oral models.

Patient selection and appliance design are important factors in the development of intra-oral models. Adults, rather than children, are recommended as panelists due to their similarity to children in response to fluoride for caries prevention, greater likelihood of compliance with all study requirements, and greater availability for appointments. It may be desirable for additional factors--including the presence of cariogenic micro-organisms and the characteristics of their saliva with regard to remineralization--to be used in the selection of panelists. Cross-over test designs may be desirable to minimize the impact of these variables as well as of dietary differences. Appliances should be designed to approximate the normal oral conditions to the maximum extent possible. Intra-oral models should be capable not only of detecting the effects of clinically-proven fluoride treatments but also of detecting fluoride dosage responses.