Arresting Effect of Silver Diamine Fluoride on Early Childhood Caries

Objectives: To investigate the status of early childhood caries (ECC) among 2-5 year-old children and evaluate the effect of silver diamine fluoride (SDF) on the caries arrest.
Methods: Subjects were 1,028 children aged 2-5 years in Hue, Vietnam and dental examination was conducted in 2015. A total of 295 children aged 2-3 were selected and divided into 3 groups to evaluate the effect of 38 % solution of SDF (Saforide®). Group 1 (G1) received annual SDF (n=90), group 2 (G2) received biannual SDF (n=99), and group 3 (G3) did not receive SDF (n=106). A tooth surface level caries status was assessed at baseline, 6 months, and 1 year.
Results: Caries prevalence and mean dmft of children were 89.1% and 9.32, respectively. In the interventional study, about 60% of active caries surfaces had SDF application in G1 and G2 at baseline. Mean ds increased significantly in all three groups from baseline to 6 months and to 1 year: 1.88 and 3.75 in G1, 2.22 and 3.47 in G2, and 5.20 and 8.91 in G3, respectively. Mean ds was significantly higher in G3 than G1 and G2 at 6 months (p < 0.01 and p < 0.05) and 1 year (p < 0.001 and p < 0.01). The proportions of arrested caries surfaces at 6 months and 1 year were 61.8% and 47.6% in G1, and 57.7% and 64.0% in G2. Significantly higher proportions of arrested caries surfaces were observed in G2 than G1 at 1 year (p < 0.001).
Conclusions: The study indicated that ECC was a serious oral health problem in Vietnam. Therefore, effective oral health promotion and clinical intervention are necessary. SDF was found an effective measure to arrest dental caries, especially biannual application.