01 February 2023

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Caries prevention using silver diamine fluoride

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In a study published Jan. 20, 2023, in the International Dental Journal, researchers described a clinical trial which aimed to compare the caries-preventive effect of annual application of 38% silver diamine fluoride solution (SDF) with 5% sodium fluoride varnish (FV) to the anterior primary teeth of children.

According to the study, researchers hypothesized that SDF was superior to FV at one year. Secondary objectives were to determine the child's cooperation and the parent's satisfaction and assess adverse effects.

Method

The research team recruited 688 three- to four-year-old children and randomly allocated them to receive SDF or FV (positive control) on their six upper anterior teeth. Tooth-surface status was recorded using the decayed, missing and filled surfaces index. A trained observer rated the child's cooperation, and the team used a questionnaire to determine the parent's satisfaction. Adverse effects were evaluated one day and about one year after treatment.

Results

Some 434 children completed the clinical trial. The mean new decayed tooth surfaces developed for SDF and FV groups were 0.4 ± 1.5 and 0.4 ± 1.3, respectively. 

Child's cooperation for SDF and FV therapy was 71% and 70%, respectively. Parent's satisfaction for SDF and FV therapy was 71% and 69%, respectively. The team did not find any adverse effects at one day nor at about one year after treatment for either treatment arm.

Conclusions

SDF is not superior to FV for caries prevention in primary upper anterior teeth at a one-year follow-up. Child's cooperation and parent's satisfaction were similarly high with SDF and FV therapy at one-year follow-up. Neither short-term nor long-term adverse effects were observed. 

This study is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04399369).

Faith Miaomiao Zheng, Iliana Gehui Yan, Duangporn Duangthip, Edward Chin Man Lo, Sherry Shiqian Gao and Chun Hung Chu. “Caries Prevention Using Silver Diamine Fluoride: A 12-Month Clinical Trial.” International Dental Journal. 20 January 2023. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.identj.2022.12.005