Effect of Silver Diamine Fluoride as a Treatment for Dental Carie

Objectives: Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF) is a cavity varnish composed of silver and fluoride ions used to reduce hypersensitivity, remineralize suspect decalcified area, arrest dental caries, and prevent further progression of dental caries and lesions. The objective of this study was to map SDF clinical outcomes into a graph database schema.
Methods: 27 articles from 2008 to 2013 were collected using NCBI, Medline, and EBSCOhost database. Eight articles were reviewed for clinical impacts on children and older adults. Clinical outcomes were mapped using Neo4j graph database principles with node-to-node relationships and edge probabilities reported to each outcome terminus when evidenced.
Results: A total of 12 nodes, including seven main nodes with five subset nodes were mapped. These nodes were used to determine the probability of SDF application success in caries reduction, arrest, or prevention. The results between primary, secondary, and elderly sets (above the age of 60) were relatively similar. For children, primary and adult first molar teeth, the use of 38% with or without reducing agent (tannic acid) demonstrated significant increases in caries arrest (78.9%) and prevention. In comparison with Fluoride, SDR arrest of caries occurred 96.1% (Fluoride, 21.3%) and in preventing new lesions, 70.3% (Fluoride 55.7%). In comparison with glass ionomer cement restorative material, SDF arrest of caries was 91% (at 6 months), Fluoride 79% (annual application), and glass ionomer cement 82% (annual application).
Conclusions: SDF was most effective at 6 month applications in arresting caries. This rate was superior to Fluoride use alone, and Fluoride and glass ionomer cement using annual applications.