Effect on the primary dentition of mouthrinsing with a 0.2 percent neutral NaF solution: results from a demonstration program after three school years.

Benefits are presented for primary teeth from a schoolbased weekly ~]uoride rinsing program using a neutral 0.2 pereen t NaF solution in a fluoride-deficien t community. Children in grades three and four at the time of the last dental examination rinsed an average of 77 times during three school years. Rinsing was done under the supervision of classroom teachers. Compared with baseline caries scores of chJ’ldren in the same community who never rinsed, there was a reduction in caries prevalence after three years of 1Z6 percent (dfs/child) or 17.3 percent (dfs/lOOs). The greatest reduction after three years (24.2 percent) was found for proximal surfaces. The magnitude of caries reduction for the permanent dentition increased after each year of rinsing, but an increased reduction for the primary dentition was not observed between the second and thJ’rd rinsing years.