IADR Abstract Archives
Arresting Dentin Caries in Preschool Children by Topical Fluorides
Objectives: This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of three topical fluoride application protocols in arresting dentin caries in primary teeth of preschool children.
Methods: A total of 295 children aged 3-4 years who had at least one active dentin lesion in their primary teeth were randomly allocated into three intervention groups: Group 1 - annual application of 30% silver diammine fluoride (SDF) solution; Group 2 - three applications of 30% SDF solution at weekly interval; and Group 3 - three applications of 5% sodium fluoride (NaF) varnish at weekly interval. Follow-up examinations every 6 months were carried out by the same masked examiner to assess whether the treated caries lesions had become arrested.
Results: After 24 months, 249 children (84%) with 1,288 lesions remained in the study. Of the children remaining, 62% only received the assigned fluoride treatment provided in the study, while 38% had sought other dental treatments from other dentists. For the children who had received the assigned fluoride treatment, the caries arrest rates after 24 months of Group 1 to 3 were 37%, 35% and 27%, respectively (p=0.04). For the children who had received other dental treatments, no significant differences in caries arrest rates between the three groups were observed. The results of multi-level survival analysis showed that the arrest times of dentin caries in both SDF solution groups were significantly shorter than those of the NaF varnish group. Tooth type, tooth surface, extent of the caries lesion, and presence of plaque on the carious lesion had significant effects on caries arrest rates.
Conclusions: Application of 30%SDF solution, either 3-weekly applications at baseline or annual application, can arrest active dentin carious lesions in primary teeth faster than 3-weekly applications of 5%NaF varnish at baseline.
Methods: A total of 295 children aged 3-4 years who had at least one active dentin lesion in their primary teeth were randomly allocated into three intervention groups: Group 1 - annual application of 30% silver diammine fluoride (SDF) solution; Group 2 - three applications of 30% SDF solution at weekly interval; and Group 3 - three applications of 5% sodium fluoride (NaF) varnish at weekly interval. Follow-up examinations every 6 months were carried out by the same masked examiner to assess whether the treated caries lesions had become arrested.
Results: After 24 months, 249 children (84%) with 1,288 lesions remained in the study. Of the children remaining, 62% only received the assigned fluoride treatment provided in the study, while 38% had sought other dental treatments from other dentists. For the children who had received the assigned fluoride treatment, the caries arrest rates after 24 months of Group 1 to 3 were 37%, 35% and 27%, respectively (p=0.04). For the children who had received other dental treatments, no significant differences in caries arrest rates between the three groups were observed. The results of multi-level survival analysis showed that the arrest times of dentin caries in both SDF solution groups were significantly shorter than those of the NaF varnish group. Tooth type, tooth surface, extent of the caries lesion, and presence of plaque on the carious lesion had significant effects on caries arrest rates.
Conclusions: Application of 30%SDF solution, either 3-weekly applications at baseline or annual application, can arrest active dentin carious lesions in primary teeth faster than 3-weekly applications of 5%NaF varnish at baseline.