Intraoral Slow-Release Fluoride Devices: A Review

Dental caries still continues to be a problem for majority of individuals and it can be a serious problem for medically compromised, developmentally disabled and elderly individuals. Water fluoridation, systemic and topical fluorides have been used for many years to supply supplemental fluoride to combat dental caries. The latest fluoride research is investigating the use of slow release devices for long term provision of fluoride. Slow-release fluoride devices were developed based on the inverse relationship existing between intra-oral fluoride levels and dental caries experience. A substantial number of studies have demonstrated that these devices are effective in raising intra-oral F concentrations at levels able to reduce enamel solubility, resulting in a caries-protective effect. However, retention rates have been shown to be the main problem related to these devices and still require further improvements. Although the results of these studies are very promising, further randomized clinical trials are needed in order to validate the use of these devices in clinical practice. The concept of continuously providing low levels of intra-oral fluoride has great potential for caries prevention in high caries-risk groups.