Silver Diamine Fluoride in Arresting Dentinal Caries in School Children

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Background: In recent years, remineralisation of caries lesions has gained acceptance in the practice ofminimally invasive dentistry and caries arrest treatment is being promoted as a part of basic oral health care.Silver diamine fluoride(SDF) has shown to be effective in arresting active caries in primary teeth. Whether ahigher caries arrest rate can be achieved through more frequent application is unknown, hence in our studywe had sought to explore this aspect. Aim: To evaluate the effectiveness of three different frequencies ofapplication of SDF in arresting active dentinal caries primary teeth.Methodology: 48 children aged 5-8 years were divided into three groups, group 1 who received monthlyapplications of SDF for three months, group 2 who received three monthly applications of SDF for 6 monthsand group 3 received 6 monthly applications. Active caries surfaces were recorded at baseline examinationand SDF was applied. No attempt was made to excavate caries. Active and arrested caries were recorded at6 months and one year for all the groups. Results: Allthree application protocols were effective in arrestingcaries at the end of 6 months and one-year. Inter-group comparison of active caries surfaces showed nostatistically significant differences at the end of 6 months. At one year follow up there were statisticallysignificant differences between the three groups, with caries arrest rate highest in group I, followed by groupII and then group III.Conclusion: Significant caries arrest was seen in all three application protocols of SDF at the end of sixmonths as well as one year follow up. The one monthly application of SDF was most effective in arrestingdentin caries in primary molars of children followed by the three monthly application and the 6 monthlyapplication. Increasing the frequency of application of SDF solution can increase the caries arrest rate.