The evidence related to the use of silver diamine fluoride (SDF) for caries prevention in primary teeth is limited. So, this randomized clinical trial evaluated the effectiveness of 38% SDF, 5% sodium fluoride (NaF) varnish and placebo control in preventing approximal caries in primary teeth.
The study involved children aged between 4-6 years having at least one sound decay in the posterior teeth assessed with bitewing radiographs.
‘Semi-annual application of 5% sodium fluoride solution can prevent decay in children.’
The participants are randomly allocated into three intervention groups as follows: Group 1 = control (water), Group 2 = 5% NaF varnish (Duraphat) and Group 3 = 38% SDF (Topamine).
All these agents are applied semi-annually and the new caries development is assessed by the bitewing radiographic examinations at 6-, 12-, and 18-month follow up by two blind calibrated investigators.
The new approximal caries development rates of Group 1, 2, and 3 at the 18-month examination were 22.5%, 13.6%, and 24.3%, respectively (p
Based on these results, the semi-annual application of 5% NaF varnish is more effective than that of 38% SDF and the placebo control in preventing approximal caries in primary teeth.
Source: Medindia
