IADR Abstract Archives
Preventing Root Caries in Community-dwelling Elders Using Silver Diammine Fluoride
Objectives: To describe the effectiveness of applications of silver diammine fluoride (SDF) solution in preventing root caries among elders in Hong Kong.
Methods: This study was conducted on community-dwelling elders aged over 55 years in Hong Kong. Elders who had at least 5 teeth with exposed root surfaces and had self-care ability were randomly allocated into 3 intervention groups as follows: Gp1 – oral hygiene instruction (OHI) only; Gp2 – OHI and annual application of SDF solution; Gp3 – OHI and annual application of SDF solution immediately followed by saturated potassium iodide (KI) solution. Fluoridated toothpaste (1450 ppm) was provided to all subjects. Status of root surfaces was assessed annually by the same independent examiner.
Results: A total of 323 elders (mean age = 72.1) with 13499 sound exposed root surfaces were examined at baseline. After 30 months, 257 (79.6%) of the elders were reviewed. The mean numbers of root surface with new caries found at 30-month examination in Group 1, 2, and 3 were 1.18, 0.42, and 0.52 respectively (ANOVA, p<0.05). Scheffe’s multiple comparison showed that elders who received OHI only developed more new root caries lesions (p<0.001), and the mean number of new root caries was similar in SDF group and SDF/KI group ( p=0.827). Moreover, elders who had higher visible plaque index scores at 30-month examination (ANCOVA, p<0.001) and those who had higher DMFT scores at baseline (ANCOVA, p=0.009) developed more new root caries.
Conclusions: The applications of SDF solution and SDF/KI solution were more effective than giving OHI only in preventing root caries among community-dwelling elders over 30 months.
Methods: This study was conducted on community-dwelling elders aged over 55 years in Hong Kong. Elders who had at least 5 teeth with exposed root surfaces and had self-care ability were randomly allocated into 3 intervention groups as follows: Gp1 – oral hygiene instruction (OHI) only; Gp2 – OHI and annual application of SDF solution; Gp3 – OHI and annual application of SDF solution immediately followed by saturated potassium iodide (KI) solution. Fluoridated toothpaste (1450 ppm) was provided to all subjects. Status of root surfaces was assessed annually by the same independent examiner.
Results: A total of 323 elders (mean age = 72.1) with 13499 sound exposed root surfaces were examined at baseline. After 30 months, 257 (79.6%) of the elders were reviewed. The mean numbers of root surface with new caries found at 30-month examination in Group 1, 2, and 3 were 1.18, 0.42, and 0.52 respectively (ANOVA, p<0.05). Scheffe’s multiple comparison showed that elders who received OHI only developed more new root caries lesions (p<0.001), and the mean number of new root caries was similar in SDF group and SDF/KI group ( p=0.827). Moreover, elders who had higher visible plaque index scores at 30-month examination (ANCOVA, p<0.001) and those who had higher DMFT scores at baseline (ANCOVA, p=0.009) developed more new root caries.
Conclusions: The applications of SDF solution and SDF/KI solution were more effective than giving OHI only in preventing root caries among community-dwelling elders over 30 months.