EVALUATING PREVENTIVE STRATEGIES FOR ENHANCING TOOTH SURFACE MINERALIZATION IN CHILDREN: A RANDOMIZED CONTROL STUDY

Voora Taruni*, KVV Prasad, Kura Santhosh Reddy

ABSTRACT

Background: Preventive measures like oral health education, application of fluoride and sealants enhance tooth remineralization and inhibit demineralization, thereby reducing the risk of dental caries. This study evaluated the effectiveness of these measures in children, using DIAGNOdent readings to assess tooth surface mineralization. Methodology: This randomized controlled study was conducted in Hubbali-Dharwad city with 102 subjects aged 12–15, having a DIAGNOdent score of 13–24 on fully erupted permanent molars. Subjects were divided into three groups: Group A (pit and fissure sealants), Group B (topical fluorides), and Group C (oral health education). Treatments were implemented, and mineralization scores were recorded using a DIAGNOdent pen at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months. Statistical analysis involved a one-way ANOVA for baseline comparisons. A repeated measures ANOVA with post-hoc test was used for assessing within-group and between-group changes over time. Results: Baseline readings showed no significant differences between groups, Group A: 18.16, Group B: 17.61, Group C: 17.73 (p 0.826). At 3 months, significant differences were found across all groups (p < 0.001), with Group A at 10.9, Group B at 11.13, and Group C at 14.77. At 6 months, Groups A and B showed significant improvement (A: 9.61, B: 8.42), whereas Group C showed no significant change (18.37). Conclusions: Pit and fissure sealant and topical fluoride are equally effective in promoting mineralization of the tooth surface on permanent molars. While oral health education had a short-term effect for three months. Clinical trials registry ID: CTRI/2022/01/039318.

Keywords: Dental caries, fluorides topical, health education, pit and fissure sealants, preventive dentistry, primary prevention, tooth demineralization, and tooth remineralization.