Recent clinical studies suggest that laser fluorescence may be used to monitor progression or regression of early caries lesions. Objectives: The aim was to evaluate the effect of an antibacterial varnish by the readings of a caries detecting device (DIAGNOdent) in fissures of young permanent molars. Material and Methods: The study group consisted of 32 healthy patients with a mean age of 14.1 years undergoing orthodontic treatment with fixed appliances. The inclusion criteria were presence of one homologous pair of 2nd upper or lower molars with clinically intact occlusal surfaces. A split-mouth study design was used in which the teeth randomly were assigned to topical treatments with either an antibacterial chlorhexidine/thymol-containing (Cervitec) or a placebo varnish every 6th week. The follow-up period was 42 weeks and clinical examinations and laser fluorescence readings were carried out every 12th week. Follow-up values were compared with baseline with a paired 2-tailed t-test. Results: The DIAGNOdent values increased significantly (p<0.05) after 24, 36 and 48 weeks compared to baseline following the placebo varnish treatments but not after treatments with the active antibacterial varnish. During the study period, micro-cavities were clinically diagnosed in 2 test- and 5 placebo-treated teeth. Conclusion: The results reinforce previous findings that frequent applications of a chlorhexidine/thymol-containing dental varnish might have a protective role in fissures of young permanent molars and that this could be monitored with a chair-side caries detection device based on laser fluorescence. (The varnishes were supplied by Vivadent, Schaan, LIE).

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