Abstract: PURPOSE: To explore the effect of sodium fluoride tooth protector combined with pit and fissure sealing to prevent caries in preschool children. METHODS: Two hundred preschool children who were treated with pit and fissure closure from January 2014 to September 2014 were selected as subjects. According to random number table method, 100 cases were divided into the combined group and the control group. Children in the control group were treated with pit and fissure sealant for prevention of caries, while children in the combined group were treated with sodium fluoride tooth protector combined with pit and fissure sealant for caries prevention. The incidence of dental caries, proximal caries, mean DMFT, and expulsion rate of the sealants were compared between the two groups at 1 year and 2 years. Data analysis was performed using SPSS 16.0 software package for t test and χ² test. RESULTS: At 1 year of follow-up, there was no significant difference in the incidence of dental caries, proximal caries, and mean DMFT between the two groups (P>0.05). The incidence of caries and mean DMFT in the combined group were significantly lower than those in the control group at 2 years of follow-up (P<0.05). The incidence of proximal caries in the combined group was not significantly different from that in the control group (P>0.05). The retension rate of the pit and fissure sealant in the combined group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the partial shedding rate and complete expulsion rate between the two groups (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Sodium fluoride tooth protector combined with pit and fissure sealing has better anti-caries effect than the use of pit and fissure sealant alone in preschool children.

Key words: Sodium fluoride tooth protector, Pit and fissure sealant, Preschool children, Dental caries