What do systematic reviews say?

Fluoride varnish vs Fluoride mouthrinse

• One topical fluoride (toothpastes, or mouthrinses, or gels, or varnishes) versus another for preventing dental caries… 2004 · Cochrane All outcomes

  1 to 3 years (final follow-up)
  PF 0.10 [-0.12, 0.32]
  4 studies · 952 participants
  GRADE not reported

Fluoride varnish vs Fluoride gel

• One topical fluoride (toothpastes, or mouthrinses, or gels, or varnishes) versus another for preventing dental caries… 2004 · Cochrane All outcomes

  1 to 3 years (final follow-up)
  PF 0.14 [-0.12, 0.40]
  1 study · 254 participants
  GRADE not reported

Fluoride mouthrinse, gel or varnish combined with fluoride toothpaste (any combined regimen) vs Fluoride toothpaste alone

• Combinations of topical fluoride (toothpastes, mouthrinses, gels, varnishes) versus single topical fluoride for… 2004 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Nearest to 3 years
  PF 0.10 [0.02, 0.17]
  9 studies · 4026 participants
  GRADE not reported

Fluoride varnish vs Fluoride in rinse

The illustrative network meta-regression estimated an SMD for caries increment for fluoride in varnish versus fluoride in rinse across randomization year; the review did not state whether the difference was significant and certainty was not graded.

• Graphs of study contributions and covariate distributions for network meta-regression. 2018 All outcomes

  At least 1 year or school year · Network meta-regression covariate: randomization year
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  GRADE not reported

Topical fluoride therapy (toothpaste, mouthrinse, gel or varnish; any fluoride agent/concentration; frequency at least once a year) vs placebo or no treatment

• Topical fluoride (toothpastes, mouthrinses, gels or varnishes) for preventing dental caries in children and adolescents 2003 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Nearest to 3 years
  PF 0.26 [0.21, 0.30]
  79 studies
  GRADE not reported
• Topical fluoride (toothpastes, mouthrinses, gels or varnishes) for preventing dental caries in children and adolescents 2003 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Nearest to 3 years · Fluoride varnish trials
  PF 0.53 [0.23, 0.82]
  3 studies
  GRADE not reported
• Topical fluoride (toothpastes, mouthrinses, gels or varnishes) for preventing dental caries in children and adolescents 2003 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Nearest to 3 years · Fluoride gel trials
  PF 0.32 [0.19, 0.46]
  10 studies
  GRADE not reported

Fluoride varnish combined with fluoride toothpaste vs Fluoride toothpaste alone

• Combinations of topical fluoride (toothpastes, mouthrinses, gels, varnishes) versus single topical fluoride for… 2004 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Nearest to 3 years
  PF 0.48 [0.12, 0.84]
  1 study · 71 participants
  GRADE not reported