Fortnightly fluoride rinsing combined with topical painting of fluoride solutions containing Al-, Fe-, and Mn-ions

abstract – The possibility of achieving a caries-reducing effect by a combination of Fortnightly mouthrinsings with 0.2% NaF-solutions and topical painting with solutions containing Al-, Fe-, and Mn-ions was examined in a 4-year clinical study. In addition to the fluoride rinses one of two randomized groups was given three paintings per year with a 0.2 % NaF-solution. The other group was painted three times per year with a potassium fluoride solution containing Al-, Fe-, and Mn-ions. This group developed significantly less caries during the study than the NaF-group. The results indicate that certain metal ions enhance the caries-prophylactic action of the fluoride ions.     

Musculoskeletal Disorders in Shipyard Workers

The primary hypothesis was that musculoskeletal disorders weremuch more common in older workers than in younger ones. A questionairewas answered by 1565 shipyard workers at a health check-up.We also scrutinized diagnoses from the health centre at theshipyards. The work load of each occupation was independentlyestimated in three degrees, low, moderate and heavy. There wasno obvious relation between musculoskeletal disorders and age.However, there was as expected a strong relationship betweenwork load and symptoms or medical diagnoses. The data indicatedno strong correlation between musculoskeletal disorders fromdifferent organs. Requests for reprints should be addressed to: Bengt Järvholm, Department of Occupational Medicine, S.t Sigfridsgatan 85, S-412 66 Göteborg, Sweden     

Effect of different caries preventive measures in children highly infected with mutans streptococci

Abstract – The caries preventive effect of topical application of fluoride varnish (Duraphat), ferric-aluminum-fluoride solution (FeAlF) and chlorhexidine gel was compared in a 2-yr clinical study. Children with more than 10⁶ mutans streptococci per ml saliva were selected and a total of 189 13-yr-old children participated in the study. The children in the fluoride groups were treated every third month with either Duraphat or FeAlF-solution. In the chlorhexidine group children with more than 2.5 × 10⁵ mutans streptococci per ml of saliva were treated every third month. The mean number of new decayed and filled tooth surfaces was 3.06 in the chlorhexidine group, 5.88 in the Duraphat group, 5.33 in the FeAlF group, and 6.34 in the control group. Thus supervised antimicrobial treatment can significantly reduce the incidence of dental (caries) in children with high numbers of mutans streptococci.