IADR Abstract Archives
Silver-Diamine-Fluoride Significantly Decreased Gingivitis in Geriatric-Patients in Three Weeks
Objectives: Gingivitis in the geriatric population is growing public health concern. Finding effective and non-invasive approach to prevent and treat gingivitis is crucial and challenging. Silver-Diamine-Fluoride (SDF) approved for prevention and treatment of dental-caries among children and adults. Some passing observations of gingival-health improvement following SDF application has been noted in literature, but not critically evaluated. This study investigated the effect of SDF on gingival tissues in geriatric-patients with gingivitis.
Methods: This is 7-week randomized, controlled, prospective double-blind in-vivo study. 25 geriatric-participants (≥65-y old) with gingivitis; living in senior-retirement-homes; were identified based on inclusion criteria and randomly allocated to two groups: Experimental group: receiving (SDF) (n=15) and Control group: receiving normal-saline (S) (n=10). Solutions were applied to teeth by blinded clinician once a week for three consecutive weeks. Löe-Silness gingival index (GI) and Silness- Löe plaque index (PI); were assessed at baseline before treatment and at follow up time-points (week 3, week 5 and week 7). Independent t-test was used for between-groups comparison and paired t-test was used for within-group comparisons.
Results: Compared to control group, SDF group showed less gingival inflammation starting week-5 as well as lower levels of plaque starting week-3, as reflected in the change in the average GI and PI scores. These changes were statistically significant (p<0.05). Within SDF group, there were statistically significant improvements in average GI scores (p=0.001) within 3-weeks (GI 0.97±0.53) compared to its baseline score (GI 1.89±0.39), with visually less inflamed gingival tissues (redness, swelling and bleeding) which continued to significantly improve ( p=0.001) until week-7 (GI 0.61±0.34). saline-control treated patients demonstrated no significant improvement in GI (p=0.164) and PI (p=0.740) at all time-points.
Conclusions: Our results provide tangible evidence that SDF application is associated with better gingival health. SDF has the potential to be a new adjunctive, cost-effective and noninvasive tool for treating gingivitis.
Methods: This is 7-week randomized, controlled, prospective double-blind in-vivo study. 25 geriatric-participants (≥65-y old) with gingivitis; living in senior-retirement-homes; were identified based on inclusion criteria and randomly allocated to two groups: Experimental group: receiving (SDF) (n=15) and Control group: receiving normal-saline (S) (n=10). Solutions were applied to teeth by blinded clinician once a week for three consecutive weeks. Löe-Silness gingival index (GI) and Silness- Löe plaque index (PI); were assessed at baseline before treatment and at follow up time-points (week 3, week 5 and week 7). Independent t-test was used for between-groups comparison and paired t-test was used for within-group comparisons.
Results: Compared to control group, SDF group showed less gingival inflammation starting week-5 as well as lower levels of plaque starting week-3, as reflected in the change in the average GI and PI scores. These changes were statistically significant (p<0.05). Within SDF group, there were statistically significant improvements in average GI scores (p=0.001) within 3-weeks (GI 0.97±0.53) compared to its baseline score (GI 1.89±0.39), with visually less inflamed gingival tissues (redness, swelling and bleeding) which continued to significantly improve ( p=0.001) until week-7 (GI 0.61±0.34). saline-control treated patients demonstrated no significant improvement in GI (p=0.164) and PI (p=0.740) at all time-points.
Conclusions: Our results provide tangible evidence that SDF application is associated with better gingival health. SDF has the potential to be a new adjunctive, cost-effective and noninvasive tool for treating gingivitis.
