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

– 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.