Findings

What do systematic reviews say?

5 questions · 5 findings · 2 reviews · Orthodontics

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No studies found 0 · 0%GRADE not reported 1 · 20%Very low 1 · 20%Low 3 · 60%Moderate 0 · 0%High 0 · 0%

Fluoride varnish vs Non-fluoride (placebo) varnish

Number of participants with new demineralised lesions (DLs) · Orthodontic patients of any age with fixed braces (new DLs assessed at debond)

Professionally-applied fluoride varnish (7700 or 10,000 ppm F),… showed no clear difference in number of participants with new demineralised lesions (DLs) compared with non-fluoride (placebo) varnish (low certainty).

1 finding from 1 review

Fluorides for preventing early tooth decay (demineralised lesions) during fixed brace treatment 2019 · Cochrane All outcomes
At debond; follow-up 1.7 years
RR 0.52 [0.14, 1.93]
2 studies · 405 participants
Low

Fluoride varnish vs Non-fluoride (placebo) varnish

Adverse effects · Orthodontic patients of any age with fixed braces (new DLs assessed at debond)

1 finding from 1 review

Fluorides for preventing early tooth decay (demineralised lesions) during fixed brace treatment 2019 · Cochrane All outcomes
At debond; follow-up 1.7 years
SoF 1. Adverse effects: no evidence that the intervention had adverse effects; only 1 participant with an adverse event and unclear if directly related to the intervention. 148 participants (1 RCT, Sonesson 2019);…
1 study · 148 participants
Low

Fluoride varnish vs Non-fluoride (placebo) varnish

Number of participants with more severe DLs (score 3 or 4 versus 1 or 2) · Orthodontic patients of any age with fixed braces (new DLs assessed at debond)

Professionally-applied fluoride varnish (7700 ppm F ammonium… may leads to lower number of participants with more severe DLs (score 3 or 4 versus 1… compared with non-fluoride (placebo) varnish (low certainty).

1 finding from 1 review

Fluorides for preventing early tooth decay (demineralised lesions) during fixed brace treatment 2019 · Cochrane All outcomes
At debond; follow-up 1.7 years
RR 0.46 [0.22, 0.95]
1 study · 148 participants
Low

Fluoride varnish vs Placebo varnish, resin sealant, or standard care (oral hygiene instructions)

Prevalence of white spot lesions (WSL) at debonding, subject level · Healthy adolescents and adults undergoing orthodontic treatment with fixed multi-bracket appliances

Fluoride varnish applied regularly during fixed orthodontic treatment may reduce the prevalence of white spot lesions at debonding (pooled RR 0.64, 95% CI 0.42 to 0.98), but the certainty of evidence is very low.

1 finding from 1 review

Prevention of white spot lesions with fluoride varnish during orthodontic treatment with fixed appliances: a… 2023 All outcomes
At debonding · Orthodontic care (fixed multi-bracket appliance treatment)
RR 0.64 [0.42, 0.98]
5 studies · 558 participants
Very low

Fluoride varnish vs Placebo varnish, resin sealant, or standard care (oral hygiene instructions)

White spot lesion clinical score (mean values), subject level · Healthy adolescents and adults undergoing orthodontic treatment with fixed multi-bracket appliances

In a pooled analysis of two placebo-controlled trials, fluoride varnish also reduced white spot lesion clinical scores (pooled SMD -0.44, 95% CI -0.64 to -0.24); this secondary outcome was not separately GRADE-rated.

1 finding from 1 review

Prevention of white spot lesions with fluoride varnish during orthodontic treatment with fixed appliances: a… 2023 All outcomes
At debonding · Orthodontic care (fixed multi-bracket appliance treatment)
SMD -0.44 [-0.64, -0.24]
2 studies · 258 participants
GRADE not reported