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The aim of this paper was systematically to evaluate the caries-preventive effect of professional fluoride varnish treatments. A search of the literature for articles published between 1966 and August 2003 was carried out in electronic databases, reference lists of articles, and selected textbooks in accordance with the strategy of the Swedish Council on Technology Assessment in Health Care. Out of 302 identified papers, 24 randomized and controlled clinical trials comparing fluoride varnish with placebo, no active treatment or other fluoride preventive regimens of at least 2 years' study duration were included. The trials that met the inclusion criteria were assessed independently and systematically by at least two reviewers and scored from A to C according to predetermined criteria for methodology and performance. The main outcome measure was the preventive fraction expressed as a percentage. The results displayed limited evidence (evidence level 3) for the caries preventive effect of topical applications of fluoride varnishes in permanent teeth. The average prevented fraction was 30% (0-69%) when compared with untreated controls. Inconclusive evidence (evidence level 4) was found for fluoride varnish treatment in the primary dentition and in adults. This systematic review reinforces the need for future clinical research of high quality, incorporating modern concepts of clinical performance and evaluation to assess dental caries control using professional fluoride varnish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the influence of different local anaesthetic techniques in pain, disruptive behaviour and anxiety in children´s dental treatment.Material and methods: This was a randomised and parallel clinical trial. The sample consisted of 105 children (5-8 years old) that were divided into three groups (n = 35) according to the anaesthetic technique: conventional anaesthesia (CA); vibrational anaesthesia (VBA); computer-controlled local anaesthesia delivery (CCLAD). The outcomes were self-perception of pain (Wong-Baker Faces Pain Rating Scale - WBF; Numerical Rating Scale - NRS); disruptive behaviour (Face, Legg, Activity, Cry, Consolability Scale - FLACC); anxiety (Corah's Dental Anxiety Scale; modified Venham Picture test - VPTm) and physiological parameters (blood pressure - systolic - SBP and diastolic - DBP; heart rate - HR; oxygen saturation - SpO2; respiratory rate - RR). Data were statistically analysed with Kruskall-Wallis test and ANOVA for repeated measures with Tukey post hoc test (α = 0.05).Results: All the patients exhibited the same level of dental anxiety at baseline (Corah's Dental Anxiety Scale). There was no difference in self-perception pain, irrespective the evaluation tool used (WBF - p = .864; VAS - p = .761). No differences were detected in disruptive behaviour (FLACC - p = .318); anxiety (VPTm - p = .274); blood pressure (SBP - p = .239; DBP - p = .512); heart rate (p = .728); oxygen saturation (p = .348) and respiratory rate (p = .238) between anaesthetic techniques.Conclusion: Different anaesthetic dental local techniques do not affect the levels of pain, disruptive behaviour, anxiety and physiological parameters in children aged 5-8 years old. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]