CLINICAL EVALUATION OF THE EFFICACY OF SILVER DIAMINE FLUORIDE IN ARRESTING ACTIVE DENTIN CARIES IN PRIMARY MOLARS

Abstract

ABSTRACTIntroduction: The atrauamatic restorative technique or approach has achieved considerableinterest worldwide. Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF) controls active cariouslesions and helps in preventing further progression of the disease. Aim of the study:To evaluate and compare the efficacy of conventional glass ionomer cement (Fuji IX)and silver diamine fluoride in arresting active dentin carious lesions in primary molarsthrough clinical evaluation. Materials and Methods: Sixty primary molars, with activedentin carious lesion (scores 4 or 5) according to ICDAS II in 25 children (4-7years) were included in the present study. All selected teeth were treated with modifiedatraumatic restorative technique (ART). The treated teeth were divided into two groupsaccording to the restorative material: Group 1 was restored with Fuji IX while Group IIwas restored with SDF and Fuji IX. The treated teeth were evaluated clinically for specificparameters and followed- up for 3, 6, 9 and 12 months. Results: When comparedto Group II regarding all the tested clinical criteria (spontaneous pain, mobility, sensitivityto percussion and sinus or swelling); there was a statistically significant decreasein success rate within both group I (P-value <0.001, effect size = 0.367) and group II(P-value <0.001, effect size = 0.187). According to Kaplan-Meier survival analysis,the mean survival time for Group I was 9.9 months and for Group II was 11.2 months.There was no statistically significant difference between the survival of the two materialswithin the time frame of the present study (P-value = 0.170). Conclusion: It couldbe concluded that 38% SDF offers an easy and efficient alternative treatment for earlychildhood caries in young children in comparison to traditional restorative procedureswith better longevity, treatment outcome and prognosis.