Evaluation of the clinical efficacy of 38% silver diamine fluoride in arresting dental caries in primary teeth and its parental acceptance.

Background: Early childhood caries (ECC) has been regarded as one of the most prevalent chronic diseases in children. Conventional restorative management of ECC is difficult to perform in very young and apprehensive children. Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) can be a useful tool in the management of dental caries by arresting the carious lesion in primary teeth. After SDF treatment, the dentinal staining that is associated with SDF influences the acceptance of this treatment among parents of young children.

Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of biannual application of 38% SDF followed by 5% sodium fluoride (NaF) varnish for arresting dental caries in children and its parental acceptance.

Methods: Twenty-six children aged 2-5 years with 107 active caries lesions in primary teeth were enrolled. At the baseline examination, status of carious lesions was recorded and scored according to the International Caries Detection and Assessment System II. Lesion activity was assessed by visual inspection and tactile detection. Carious lesions with score 3, 4, 5, and 6 were treated with 38%SDF application, followed by 5% NaF varnish. Children were re-evaluated at 3 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months. Parental acceptance of SDF treatment was evaluated.

Results: This study demonstrated that 38% SDF was 92.31% effective in arresting dental caries in primary teeth and was well accepted by parents. Chi-square test was used to assess the significant difference among the arrested lesions which was statistically significant (P < 0.05).

Conclusion: Thirty-eight percent SDF can be effectively used in arresting caries in primary teeth in young and uncooperative children.