HIỆU QUẢ CỦA VECNI FLUOR TRONG PHÒNG NGỪA SÂU RĂNG Ở TRẺ 3 TUỔI TẠI TỈNH BÀ RỊA – VŨNG TÀU

Abstract

Introduction – Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of regular fluoride varnish application in preventing the progression of dental caries in 3-year-old children who were already beneficiaries of a provincial school-based oral health program, with assessments conducted at 3-, 6-, and 9-months post-intervention. Methods: This randomized controlled trial (RCT) was conducted among 880 three-year-old children from 16 preschools in Ba Ria – Vung Tau Province. After screening, 768 children with d₁mft score > 0 were randomly assigned to either the intervention group (n=406), receiving fluoride varnish every 3 months, or the control group (n=362), who did not receive varnish. All participants benefited from the existing school-based oral health program. Dental caries status was recorded using the ICDAS system by four calibrated examiners (Kappa ≥ 0.84), with lesions categorized into two levels: non-cavitated (d₁) and cavitated (d₃). Caries indices (d₁mft and d₃mft) and the OHIS were assessed at baseline (T0), 3 months (T1), 6 months (T2), and 9 months (T3). Data was analyzed using Chi-square test, independent samples t-test and paired t-test. Results: OHIS scores increased over time in both groups, with no significant differences between groups (p=0.786). From T0 to T3, the d₁mft index showed no significant change in the intervention group (∆ = 0.02; p=0.928), while the control group had a significant increase (∆ = 0.81; p=0.007); the between-group difference was statistically significant (p=0.042). For d₃mft, the increase was lower in the intervention group (∆ = 0.94; p<0.001) compared to the control group (∆ = 1.66; p<0.001), with a significant difference between groups (p=0.013). Conclusion: Quarterly application of fluoride varnish effectively slowed the progression of dental caries in preschool children, even among those already enrolled in a school-based oral health program. This preventive strategy is feasible and should be integrated into community-based dental care models for children