Preventive
Hannah Jackson, DMD
Student
Indiana University, Bloomington, IN
University of Indiana School of Dentistry/Riley Hospital for Children
Westfield, Indiana, United States
Allison C. Scully, DDS, MS
Assistant Professor
Indiana University/Riley Hospital for Children
Indiana University
Indianapolis, Indiana, United States
LaQuia A. Vinson, DDS, MPH
Pediatric Dentistry Residency Program Director
Indiana University/Riley Hospital for Children
Indianapolis, Indiana, United States
James E. Jones, DMD
Faculty
Indiana University/Riley Hospital for Children
Indianapolis, Indiana, United States
George Eckert, MAS
Indiana University
Timothy Downey, MS
P and R Dental
Gerardo Maupome, BDS, MSc, PhD
Indiana University School of Dentistry
LaQuia A. Vinson, DDS, MPH
Pediatric Dentistry Residency Program Director
Indiana University/Riley Hospital for Children
Indianapolis, Indiana, United States
Juan F. Yepes, DDS, MD, MPH, MS, DrPH
Indiana University, Riley Hospital for Children
Methods: The data for this study were obtained in conjunction with a dental data warehouse through a partnership agreement with Indiana University. A retrospective analysis of dental claims made over a nine-year span was completed. Data were extracted for patients 1 to 8 years old with topical fluoride application and its subsequent impact on restorative dental claims between 2010 and 2018.
Results: The data included 672,889 patients in the analysis. Patients who received topical fluoride had significantly decreased numbers (P < .001) of restorative procedures and extractions per year than patients who did not receive topical fluoride. Additionally, the number of restorative procedures and extractions per year increased with patient age. Patients who did not receive topical fluoride and those who received it 0.1 to 1.4 times per year had significantly increased number (P < .001) of procedures or extractions and significantly decreased time (P < .001) to their first restorative procedure or extraction than patients who received fluoride 1.5 or more times per year.
Conclusion: Increased frequency of fluoride varnishes and gel application result in decreased restorative/extraction dental claims and increased time to future restorative/extraction dental claims.