Efficacy of Different Fluoride Therapies on Hypersensitive Carious Lesions in Primary Teeth.

This prospective, comparative, double-cohort study aimed to compare the efficacy of silver diamine fluoride and potassium iodide (38% SDF+KI; Riva Star) with sodium fluoride varnish (5% NaF; Duraphat) in hypersensitive carious lesions in primary teeth to evaluate caries arrest and hypersensitivity relief. : This study included thirty 2-5-year-olds (mean age = 3.67 ± 1.06 years; 16 males and 14 females) who required a desensitizing treatment for hypersensitive carious defects with visible dentin. A total of 15 of the participants were consecutively allocated to treatment with 5% NaF, and they were further compared to an equal number of participants treated with 38% SDF+KI solutions ( = 15). The treatments were performed following clinical evaluation of caries activity using the International Caries Classification and Management System (ICCMS) and the Bjørndal criteria (score of 0-9). Parental-reported hypersensitivity was evaluated using a visual analogue scale (0-10 = no to severe pain). : Clinical variables were evaluated at baseline and three months after treatment. Thereafter, a significant decline in hypersensitivity/pain led to lower final scores in the Riva Star group (0.40 ± 1.12, = 0.002) than in the Duraphat group (1.40 ± 2.20, = 0.004). The caries arrest effect was significantly higher in the Riva Star group (86.7%) compared to the Duraphat group three months after treatment (13.3%, < 0.001). In both groups, there were no statistically significant differences in the children's behavior before, during, and after treatment. : Ultimately, with both fluoride therapies reducing hypersensitivity/pain significantly, treatment with 38% SDF+KI was clearly more effective in caries arrest than 5% NaF varnish after a 3-month period.