IADR Abstract Archives
Parental Acceptance of Silver Diamine Fluoride for Caries Management
Objectives: To discover the attitudes of parents of children with caries in their primary dentition towards the use of silver diamine fluoride (SDF) as a caries management option.
Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was undertaken with parents of children aged between 1 and 8 years-old who had caries involving their primary dentition. The questionnaire investigated parental acceptability of SDF and attitudes towards different elements of treatment. It was designed with patient and public representatives and was self-administered.
Data collection took place in a UK dental hospital, 24/03/2021-28/04/2021. Data were analysed using simple descriptive statistics and logistic regression analysis.
Results: One hundred and thirteen parents were recruited with a response rate of 77%. Parental age range was 24-70 years (mean=36), and child range was 1-8 years (mean=6).
Families living in differing areas of deprivation were represented, with 55% living in the most deprived areas of England. The number of decayed, missing and filled primary teeth ranged from 1-16 (mean=7).
Parents were asked whether they would accept SDF for anterior teeth or posterior teeth and whether they felt the appearance of SDF was “ok with them”. The levels of agreement with these statements are shown in table 1.
Table 1
The only parameter that had a statistically significant effect on acceptance of SDF for posterior teeth was parents having lower concern over posterior aesthetics (p=0.006).
Conclusions: This study demonstrated parental acceptability for SDF as a caries management option, with a preference for use in posterior teeth . Some participants would accept SDF for their child despite dissatisfaction with the aesthetic result.
Funding information: Funded by RCS England Faculty of Dental Surgery and British Society of Paediatric Dentistry Pump-priming grant
Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was undertaken with parents of children aged between 1 and 8 years-old who had caries involving their primary dentition. The questionnaire investigated parental acceptability of SDF and attitudes towards different elements of treatment. It was designed with patient and public representatives and was self-administered.
Data collection took place in a UK dental hospital, 24/03/2021-28/04/2021. Data were analysed using simple descriptive statistics and logistic regression analysis.
Results: One hundred and thirteen parents were recruited with a response rate of 77%. Parental age range was 24-70 years (mean=36), and child range was 1-8 years (mean=6).
Families living in differing areas of deprivation were represented, with 55% living in the most deprived areas of England. The number of decayed, missing and filled primary teeth ranged from 1-16 (mean=7).
Parents were asked whether they would accept SDF for anterior teeth or posterior teeth and whether they felt the appearance of SDF was “ok with them”. The levels of agreement with these statements are shown in table 1.
Table 1
The only parameter that had a statistically significant effect on acceptance of SDF for posterior teeth was parents having lower concern over posterior aesthetics (p=0.006).
Conclusions: This study demonstrated parental acceptability for SDF as a caries management option, with a preference for use in posterior teeth . Some participants would accept SDF for their child despite dissatisfaction with the aesthetic result.
Funding information: Funded by RCS England Faculty of Dental Surgery and British Society of Paediatric Dentistry Pump-priming grant