***TASK*** the task is to summarize an input biomedical literature in six sentences 
    ***INPUT*** the input is a biomedical literature 
    ***OUTPUT*** the output is the summary of an input biomedical literature in six sentences 
    ***DOCUMENTATION*** 
    ***EXAMPLES*** 
    Input: PURPOSE This study 's purpose was to test silver diammine fluoride ( SDF ) in arresting incipient occlusal caries in erupting permanent first molars and to compare it with other approaches . METHODS Sixty-six first erupting permanent molars were r and omly divided into 3 groups : cross tooth-brushing technique ( CTT ) , application of SDF , and glass ionomer fissure sealant ( GIC ) . The clinical procedures were conducted by the same dentist . Teeth were assessed clinical ly by 1 blinded examiner using visual inspection at baseline and after 3 , 6 , 12 , 18 , and 30 months and radiographically at 6- , 12- , and 30-month follow-up evaluations . The Kruskall-Wallis test was used to compare noninvasive treatments , and the Friedman test was performed to evaluate differences for each group during different follow-up periods . RESULTS A reduced number of active caries lesions was noted in all groups . After 3 and 6 months , SDF showed a significantly greater capacity for arresting caries lesions than CTT and GIC . At 18- and 30-month evaluations , no differences were observed among the 3 groups . All groups showed differences between baseline and all follow-up re-examinations . CONCLUSIONS All the tested techniques are equally efficient in controlling initial occlusal caries in erupting permanent first molars after 30-months of follow-up The aim of this double-blind r and omized clinical trial was to evaluate the efficacy of 1.23 % APF gel application on the arrest of active incipient carious lesions in children . Sixty 7- to 12-year-old children , with active incipient lesions were included in the study . Children were divided r and omly into 2 groups : 1.23 % APF gel and placebo gel applications . Each group received 8 weekly applications of treatment . The lesions were re-evaluated at the 4th and 8th appointments . Poisson regression analysis was used to estimate relative risks of the presence of active white spot lesions . Groups showed similar results ( PR = 1.67 ; CI 95 % 0.69 - 3.98 ) . The persistence of at least 1 active lesion was associated with a higher number of lesions in the baseline ( PR = 2.67 ; CI 95 % 1.19 - 6.03 ) , but not with sugar intake ( PR = 1.06 ; CI 95 % 0.56 - 2.86 ) and previous exposure to fluoride dentifrice ( PR = 1.26 ; CI 95 % 0.49 - 2.29 ) . The trial demonstrates the equivalence of the treatments . The use of the APF gel showed no additional benefits in this sample of children exposed to fluori date d water and dentifrice . The professional dental plaque removal in both groups may also account for the result ing equivalence of the treatments OBJECTIVE To compare the effectiveness of annual topical application of silver diamine fluoride ( SDF ) solution , semi-annual topical application of SDF solution , and annual application of a flowable high fluoride-releasing glass ionomer in arresting active dentine caries in primary teeth . METHODS A total of 212 children , aged 3 - 4 years , were r and omly allocated to one of three groups for treatment of carious dentine cavities in their primary teeth :  Gp1-annual application of SDF , Gp2-semi-annual application of SDF , and Gp3-annual application of glass ionomer . Follow-up examinations were carried out every six months to assess whether the treated caries lesions had become arrested . RESULTS After 24 months , 181 ( 85 % ) children remained in the study . The caries arrest rates were 79 % , 91 % and 82 % for Gp1 , Gp2 and Gp3 , respectively ( p=0.007 ) . In the logistic regression model using GEE to adjust for clustering effect , higher caries arrest rates were found in lesions treated in Gp2 ( OR=2.98 , p=0.007 ) , those in anterior teeth ( OR=5.55 , p<0.001 ) , and those in buccal/lingual smooth surfaces ( OR=15.6 , p=0.004 ) . CONCLUSION Annual application of either SDF solution or high fluoride-releasing glass ionomer can arrest active dentine caries . Increasing the frequency of application to every 6 months can increase the caries arrest rate of SDF application . CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE Arrest of active dentine caries in primary teeth by topical application of SDF solution can be enhanced by increasing the frequency of application from annually to every 6 months , whereas annual paint-on of a flowable glass ionomer can also arrest active dentine caries and may provide a more aesthetic outcome Background Dental caries is a major public health problem in many countries . Since the last territority-wide dental survey of Hong Kong preschool children was conducted in 2001 , a survey to up date the information is necessary . This study aim ed to describe the dental caries experience of preschool children in Hong Kong and factors affecting their dental caries status . Methods A stratified r and om sample of children from seven kindergartens in Hong Kong was surveyed in 2009 . Ethical approval from IRB and parental consent was obtained . Clinical examinations of the children were performed by two calibrated examiners using disposable dental mirrors , an intra-oral LED light and ball-ended periodontal probes . A question naire to investigate possible explanatory factors for caries status was completed by the children ’s parents . Caries experience was recorded using the dmft index . Multifactor-ANOVA was used to study the relationship between dental caries experience , and the background and oral health-related behaviours of the children . Results Seven hundred children ( 53 % boys ) , mean age 5.3 ± 0.7 years were examined .  The mean dmft score of the surveyed children was 2.2 and 51 % of them had no caries experience ( dmft = 0 ) . Most ( > 95 % ) of the decayed teeth were untreated . Statistically significant correlations were found between dental caries experience of the children and their oral health-related habits , family income , parental education level and parental dental knowledge . Conclusions Early childhood dental caries was prevalent among the preschool children in Hong Kong . Their caries experience was associated with their oral health-related behaviours , socio-economic background , and parental education and dental knowledge Arresting Caries Treatment ( ACT ) has been proposed to manage untreated dental caries in children . This prospect i ve r and omized clinical trial investigated the caries-arresting effectiveness of a single spot application of : ( 1 ) 38 % silver diamine fluoride ( SDF ) with tannic acid as a reducing agent ; ( 2 ) 38 % SDF alone ; ( 3 ) 12 % SDF alone ; and ( 4 ) no SDF application in primary teeth of 976 Nepalese schoolchildren . The a priori null hypothesis was that the different treatments have no effect in arresting active cavitated caries . Only the single application of 38 % SDF with or without tannic acid was effective in arresting caries after 6 months ( 4.5 and 4.2 mean number of arrested surfaces ; p < 0.001 ) , after 1 year ( 4.1 and 3.4 ; p < 0.001 ) , and after 2 years ( 2.2 and 2.1 ; p < 0.01 ) . Tannic acid conferred no additional benefit . ACT with 38 % SDF provides an alternative when restorative treatment for primary teeth is not an option The aim of this r and omized clinical trial study was to evaluate the therapeutic effect of two varnish formulations ( G1 = 5 % NaF , G2 = 6 % NaF + 6 % CaF(2 ) ) on the remineralization of white spot lesions ( WSL ) . The sample was composed of 15 ( 7- to 12-year-old ) children with 45 active WSL in anterior permanent teeth . The children were r and omly divided into two groups providing 22 lesions for G1 and 23 for G2 . The children were su bmi tted to weekly varnish applications 4 times . The WSL were evaluated twice : baseline and on week 4 . Maximum lesion dimensions ( mesiodistal and incisogingival ) were measured in millimeters and classified in four grade s of size . WSL were also assessed regarding lesion activity by one calibrated examiner . The Pearson chi-square and Fisher 's exact tests were used ( P < 0.01 ) . WSL reductions were observed in both varnish groups ( Chi-square = 0.15 , d.f . = 1 , P = 0.90 ) , and with similar magnitude ( in mm ) : 1.19 and 1.29 for G1 and G2 , respectively . Thirty-six WSL ( 15 in G1 and 21 in G2 ) were classified as inactive on week 4 , reaching an overall value of 80 % . No difference was observed between G1 and G2 regarding activity scores ( Fisher 's exact test , p > 0.01 ) . It was concluded that after 4 applications the two varnish formulations tested produced similar clinical effects , indicating the reduction and the control of carious activity in most WSL AIM The aim of this study is to assess the effects of fluoride varnishes on  enamel caries lesions on permanent dentition . MATERIAL S AND METHODS 92 children from primary school ( Vasil Shanto , Tirana , Albania ) aged 11 - 12 years were divided into varnish ( experimental ) and control group . The experiment group received the first fluoride varnish application ( Fluoridin , Voco ) at baseline , the second application after 3 months and the third application at 6 months from baseline , while the children in the control group received no professional fluoride application . Examinations were performed at baseline and after 7 months . RESULTS We observed a slight increase in caries prevalence in the control group compared with the varnish group at the 7 month interval ( P < 0.1 for DMFT and P < 0.5 for DMFS and DS ) . When enamel lesions were included the mean of DeMFT , DeMFS , DeS the caries prevalence was significantly lower in the varnish group after 7 months ( P < 0.001 for DeMFT , DeMFS ) . CONCLUSION Fluoride varnish is an effective mean for arresting early enamel lesions . It is a safe , convenient and well accepted method by patients The aim of this study was to assess in vivo the therapeutic effect of three fluoride varnishes available in the Brazilian market on the performance of white spot lesions ( WSL ) . The sample included 36 children aged 7 to 13 years old , with a total of 67 active WSL in permanent anterior teeth . The children were r and omly divided into 3 groups , according to fluoride varnish used : FL- Fluorniz ( n=24 ) , DUO - Duofluorid XII ( n=22 ) and DF - Durafluor ( n=21 ) . Maximum WSL dimensions ( mesiodistal and incisogingival ) were measured in millimeters by a previously calibrated single examiner using a periodontal probe . WSL were also assessed regarding lesion activity . Initial and final S-OHI ( Simplified Oral Hygiene Index ) scores were recorded . Pearson 's chi-square test revealed no statistically significant differences ( p>0.05 ) in the performance of the varnishes . At the end of the 5th week , FL had 6 active and 18 inactive WSL ; DUO had 7 active and 15 inactive WSL ; and DL had 6 active and 15 inactive WSL . Taking into account all lesions , there was a 45.7 % reduction in WSL dimensions . Paired Student 's t-test revealed a statistically significant difference ( p<0.05 ) between the initial size ( 1.88 ) and final size ( 1.02 ) . After four applications , all varnishes obtained similar clinical results Objective To describe the dental caries status of preschool children in Hong Kong and factors which affect their caries status . Design 658 preschool children aged 4 to 6 years from six r and omly selected kindergartens in Hong Kong were surveyed in December 1997 . A question naire to investigate possible explanatory variables for caries status was completed by their parents . Dental caries was diagnosed according to the criteria recommended by the World Health Organization ( 1997 ) . Result Caries experience as measured by the mean number of decayed , missing and filled primary teeth ( dmft ) of the 4- , 5- , and 6-year-old children were found to be 0.9 , 1.8 , and 3.3 respectively . Overall , 61 % of the children had a zero dmft score .  Children born in Mainl and China had a higher mean dmft score ( 4.6 ) than those born in Hong Kong ( 1.4 ) . Statistically significant correlations were found between the children 's dental caries status and their oral health practice s as well as their socio-economic background . Parents ' education level , dental knowledge and attitudes were also associated with the children 's dental caries experience . Conclusion In general , the caries status of Hong Kong Chinese preschool children was similar to that of children in industrialised countries and was better than that of children in the nearby areas . However , special dental programmes should be made available to children from lower socio-economic classes and new immigrants from Mainl and China because they are the high risk groups for caries in Hong Kong BACKGROUND Plaque control and caries arrest still remain a challenge for dentists . OBJECTIVE This study was conducted to assess the effect of the combined use of chlorhexidine varnish and fluoride varnish on the visible plaque index ( VPI ) and white spot lesion ( WS ) remineralization in primary 
    Output:
    
Conclusion Professionally applied 5 % sodium fluoride varnish can remineralise early enamel caries and 38 % silver diamine fluoride is effective in arresting dentine caries