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U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion

Fluoride varnishes for preventing dental caries in children and adolescents

About this resource:

Systematic Review

Source: The Cochrane Collaborative

Last Reviewed: 2013

Workgroups: Oral Health Workgroup

Many children are affected by tooth decay (caries) — but using fluoride can help prevent caries. In this Cochrane systematic review, researchers found that fluoride varnishes — a thin layer of fluoride a dentist applies to the teeth — are effective at helping to prevent caries in children and adolescents. 

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Objectives related to this resource (4)

Increase use of the oral health care system — OH‑08
LHI label
Target met or exceeded
Increase the proportion of low-income youth who have a preventive dental visit — OH‑09
Getting worse
Reduce the proportion of children and adolescents with lifetime tooth decay — OH‑01
Little or no detectable change
Reduce the proportion of children and adolescents with active and untreated tooth decay — OH‑02
Improving

Suggested Citation

1.

Marinho VCC, Worthington HV, Walsh T, Clarkson JE. (2013). Fluoride varnishes for preventing dental caries in children and adolescents. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2013, Issue 7. Art. No.: CD002279. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD002279.pub2.