Individualised caries prevention with fluoride in children and adolescents – recommendations of Polish experts

Abstract

In addition to proper diet, the use of fluoride is the primary and effective method for the prevention of dental caries in primary and permanent dentition. Knowledge and compliance with the current guidelines for the use of different strategies and agents containing fluoride compounds is crucial for ensuring safety and efficacy of prevention. A panel of experts in paediatric dentistry and paediatrics was established as part of the working group of the Polish Branch of Alliance for a Cavity-Free Future (ACFF) to update the position on individual fluoride prevention in children and adolescents in Poland. We conducted a literature review on the knowledge of fluoride prevention, its use in the paediatric population in Poland, efficacy and safety of fluoride-containing preventive agents, as well as recommendations on fluoride prophylaxis issued by academic organisations and societies in different countries worldwide. The first version of the document was discussed and accepted by the panel of experts on paediatrics and paediatric dentistry on the 4th of April 2019. Update was scheduled for not later than 5 years after publication. This document includes basic data on the knowledge of fluoride prevention in parents, children and adolescents, the anticariogenic mechanism of fluoride, the safety and efficacy of different methods for individual fluoride prophylaxis, and the principles for its use depending on age and the risk of caries.