Abstract:

A systematic review was conducted to evaluate the therapeutic applications of fluoride, focusing on dental and medical uses. Searches were performed across five major databases: PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Scopus, and Web of Science. A combination of MeSH terms and keywords was used to cover four domains: Fluorides, Dental Therapeutics, Medical Therapeutics, and Outcomes. Inclusion criteria focused on human studies published in English between 2000 and 2024, while exclusion criteria eliminated non-human studies, irrelevant topics, and grey literature. This systematic review analyzed 34 studies on fluoride's therapeutic uses. Fluoride was consistently effective in preventing and managing dental caries, with combinations like 38% silver diamine fluoride (SDF) and 5% sodium fluoride (NaF) varnish showing higher efficacy. High-fluoride mouth rinses and toothpaste reduced demineralized lesions in orthodontic patients, while Arg-NaF varnishes are effective against enamel erosion. Sodium hyaluronate with fluoride improved gingival health. Some studies noted potential negative effects on dental materials, such as reducing sealant bond strength, highlighting the need for further research on fluoride's broader applications and material interactions. In medical contexts, fluoride demonstrated stabilizing effects in conditions like otosclerosis and osteoporosis, though findings were inconsistent across studies. Fluoride is observed to have a positive role in preventing and treating dental and bone diseases. Studies showed fluoride in specific doses could enhance tooth caries resistance and enamel erosion. Fluorides act in controlling osteosclerosis and osteoporosis by stabilizing disease progression and improving bone density. However, more research is needed to fully understand its long-term effects and optimize its use in both fields.

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