Ana Paula Pires Dos Santos1, Branca Heloisa de Oliveira1, Paulo Nadanovsky2,3. 1. Department of Community and Preventive Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Rio de Janeiro State University, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. 2. Department of Epidemiology, Institute of Social Medicine, Rio de Janeiro State University, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. 3. Department of Epidemiology, National School of Public Health, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The anticaries effect of supervised toothbrushing, irrespective of the effect of fluoride toothpaste, has not been clearly determined yet. AIM: To assess the effects of supervised toothbrushing on caries incidence in children and adolescents. DESIGN: A systematic review of controlled trials was performed (CRD42014013879). Electronic and hand searches retrieved 2046 records, 112 of which were read in full and independently assessed by two reviewers, who collected data regarding characteristics of participants, interventions, outcomes, length of follow-up and risk of bias. RESULTS: Four trials were included and none of them had low risk of bias. They were all carried out in schools, but there was great variation regarding children's age, fluoride content of the toothpaste, baseline caries levels and the way caries incidence was reported. Among the four trials, two found statistically significant differences favouring supervised toothbrushing, but information about the magnitude and/or the precision of the effect estimate was lacking and in one trial clustering effect was not taken into consideration. No meta-analysis was performed due to the clinical heterogeneity among the included studies and differences in the reporting of data. CONCLUSIONS: There is no conclusive evidence regarding the effectiveness of supervised toothbrushing on caries incidence.
BACKGROUND: The anticaries effect of supervised toothbrushing, irrespective of the effect of fluoride toothpaste, has not been clearly determined yet. AIM: To assess the effects of supervised toothbrushing on caries incidence in children and adolescents. DESIGN: A systematic review of controlled trials was performed (CRD42014013879). Electronic and hand searches retrieved 2046 records, 112 of which were read in full and independently assessed by two reviewers, who collected data regarding characteristics of participants, interventions, outcomes, length of follow-up and risk of bias. RESULTS: Four trials were included and none of them had low risk of bias. They were all carried out in schools, but there was great variation regarding children's age, fluoride content of the toothpaste, baseline caries levels and the way caries incidence was reported. Among the four trials, two found statistically significant differences favouring supervised toothbrushing, but information about the magnitude and/or the precision of the effect estimate was lacking and in one trial clustering effect was not taken into consideration. No meta-analysis was performed due to the clinical heterogeneity among the included studies and differences in the reporting of data. CONCLUSIONS: There is no conclusive evidence regarding the effectiveness of supervised toothbrushing on caries incidence.
Authors: Sharon Goldfeld; Kate Louise Francis; Monsurul Hoq; Loc Do; Elodie O'Connor; Fiona Mensah Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2019-06-03 Impact factor: 3.390
Authors: Passent Ellakany; Marwa Madi; Shaimaa M Fouda; Maria Ibrahim; Jehan AlHumaid Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2021-11-12 Impact factor: 3.390