Silver Diamine Fluoride and Fluoride Varnish May Halt Interproximal Caries Progression in the Primary Dentition

Abstract

Objective: The study described the incidence of interproximal caries arrest following SDF and fluoride varnish application in the primary dentition. Study design: A retrospective analysis of dental records including radiographs was conducted for interproximal dental caries in pediatric patients treated with SDF applied with woven floss. Bitewing radiographs and ICCMS™ radiographic scoring criteria were used to assess caries depth in primary teeth at baseline and then at 12-month follow-up examination. Results: This study included 185 interproximal carious lesions in 131 patients treated with SDF. Mean baseline ICCMS™ score for all lesions was 1.50, with an average dmft of 2.9. The majority of carious lesions (n=155, 84.0%) showed radiographic evidence of non-progression at 12-month follow-up. There was no statistically significant difference in caries arrest among primary canines, primary first molars, and primary second molars (P=0.61). Furthermore, there was no statistically significant difference in caries arrest in patients with commercial insurance, Medicaid, or no insurance (P=0.27). Conclusions: SDF application with woven floss was associated with interproximal caries arrest in the primary dentition at 12-month follow-up in this sample of low caries risk children. Tooth type and insurance type were not associated with caries arrest.

Evaluating Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices of Pakistani Dental Professionals Regarding Silver Diamine Fluoride

“…This descriptive cross sectional study was conducted in January and February 2021, among house surgeons, general dental practitioners and specialists worked at various institutes of Karachi. Sample size of 375 was calculated, with anticipated population proportion (P) of 0.42, [1] 0.05 absolute precision (d) and 95% confidence level (1-α) by using WHO sample size calculator. Both male and female dental professional were included and those participants who were refused to give informed consent were excluded from study.…”

“…A self-administered structured questionnaire was used, taken from previous study. 1 Questionnaire was kept on google forum and link was sent to all participants through social media including Facebook, WhatsApp by non-probability consecutive sampling.…”

“…Interproximal dental caries is common among children. While the prevalence of interproximal caries is poorly studied, some studies show interproximal caries may appear as early as 19-21 months of age and increases in prevalence throughout childhood [1]. Dentists have several options for managing interproximal caries, ranging from (i.e.…”

“…The ease of application makes SDF suitable for almost all patient populations, including those with developmental, behavioral, or medical considerations that complicate traditional restorative techniques [12]. Until recently, a dentist's options to treat dental caries for these patients were limited to these restorative approaches or less effective interim methods like fluoride varnish or intermediate restorative techniques [1].…”

The Use of Silver Diamine Fluoride in Pediatric Dentistry

“…SDF can also be used in enamel lesions, to control proximal carious lesions in deciduous teeth [27], and to arrest incipient occlusal caries in erupting permanent first molars [14].…”