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TOPLINE:
Children treated with silver diamine fluoride (SDF) had outcomes similar to those who received sealants and atraumatic restoration (ART), according to findings from a new study published in JAMA Pediatrics
METHODOLOGY:
- School programs for dental sealants were first proposed as a way to reduce health inequities, but the technique is too expensive to be widely used.
- Silver diamine fluoride has antimicrobial properties that remineralize the teeth and is a cost-effective alternative to dental sealants.
- The trial included 4100 children from low-income and/or minority groups in New York City, who were aged between 5 to 13 years.
- Between 2018 and 2023, students exhibiting early tooth decay were randomized to receive either SDF or sealants and ART.
- Researchers compared the rates of new cavities and fillings between the two groups over time.
TAKEAWAY:
- Overall, the odds of developing dental cavities decreased by around 20% in both treatment groups.
- The prevalence of cavities among children treated with SDF was 10.2 per 1000 tooth-years compared with 9.8 per 1000 in the sealant and ART group.
- The difference in students who had no new cavities or fillings between the two groups was minimal, ranging from −0.001 to 0.031.
- Children who received SDF from a nurse had outcomes similar to those who were treated by a dental hygienist (odds ratio, 0.89; 95% CI, 0.67-1.19).
IN PRACTICE:
“Research indicates that treatment of early childhood caries using SDF by physicians in primary care settings is both feasible and acceptable…we conclude that SDF is an effective alternative for community-based prevention that may help address these existing barriers.”
SOURCE:
The study was funded by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI). It was led by Ryan Richard Ruff, PhD, MPH, associate professor in the Department of Epidemiology & Health Promotion at New York University College of Dentistry, New York.
LIMITATIONS:
The authors reported that youth may have received dental care outside of the study, which could have influenced the results. To account for that risk, they identified students who received outside care. In addition, > 3000 students were not included in the final analysis due to attrition.
DISCLOSURES:
Authors reported receiving grants from the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, the PCORI, and the National Institutes of Health. Richard Niederman, DMD, reported nonfinancial support from Colgate, GC America, and Elevate Oral Care and consulting fees from Delta Dental Washington outside the submitted work.
A version of this article appeared on Medscape.com.
TOPLINE:
Children treated with silver diamine fluoride (SDF) had outcomes similar to those who received sealants and atraumatic restoration (ART), according to findings from a new study published in JAMA Pediatrics
METHODOLOGY:
- School programs for dental sealants were first proposed as a way to reduce health inequities, but the technique is too expensive to be widely used.
- Silver diamine fluoride has antimicrobial properties that remineralize the teeth and is a cost-effective alternative to dental sealants.
- The trial included 4100 children from low-income and/or minority groups in New York City, who were aged between 5 to 13 years.
- Between 2018 and 2023, students exhibiting early tooth decay were randomized to receive either SDF or sealants and ART.
- Researchers compared the rates of new cavities and fillings between the two groups over time.
TAKEAWAY:
- Overall, the odds of developing dental cavities decreased by around 20% in both treatment groups.
- The prevalence of cavities among children treated with SDF was 10.2 per 1000 tooth-years compared with 9.8 per 1000 in the sealant and ART group.
- The difference in students who had no new cavities or fillings between the two groups was minimal, ranging from −0.001 to 0.031.
- Children who received SDF from a nurse had outcomes similar to those who were treated by a dental hygienist (odds ratio, 0.89; 95% CI, 0.67-1.19).
IN PRACTICE:
“Research indicates that treatment of early childhood caries using SDF by physicians in primary care settings is both feasible and acceptable…we conclude that SDF is an effective alternative for community-based prevention that may help address these existing barriers.”
SOURCE:
The study was funded by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI). It was led by Ryan Richard Ruff, PhD, MPH, associate professor in the Department of Epidemiology & Health Promotion at New York University College of Dentistry, New York.
LIMITATIONS:
The authors reported that youth may have received dental care outside of the study, which could have influenced the results. To account for that risk, they identified students who received outside care. In addition, > 3000 students were not included in the final analysis due to attrition.
DISCLOSURES:
Authors reported receiving grants from the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, the PCORI, and the National Institutes of Health. Richard Niederman, DMD, reported nonfinancial support from Colgate, GC America, and Elevate Oral Care and consulting fees from Delta Dental Washington outside the submitted work.
A version of this article appeared on Medscape.com.
TOPLINE:
Children treated with silver diamine fluoride (SDF) had outcomes similar to those who received sealants and atraumatic restoration (ART), according to findings from a new study published in JAMA Pediatrics
METHODOLOGY:
- School programs for dental sealants were first proposed as a way to reduce health inequities, but the technique is too expensive to be widely used.
- Silver diamine fluoride has antimicrobial properties that remineralize the teeth and is a cost-effective alternative to dental sealants.
- The trial included 4100 children from low-income and/or minority groups in New York City, who were aged between 5 to 13 years.
- Between 2018 and 2023, students exhibiting early tooth decay were randomized to receive either SDF or sealants and ART.
- Researchers compared the rates of new cavities and fillings between the two groups over time.
TAKEAWAY:
- Overall, the odds of developing dental cavities decreased by around 20% in both treatment groups.
- The prevalence of cavities among children treated with SDF was 10.2 per 1000 tooth-years compared with 9.8 per 1000 in the sealant and ART group.
- The difference in students who had no new cavities or fillings between the two groups was minimal, ranging from −0.001 to 0.031.
- Children who received SDF from a nurse had outcomes similar to those who were treated by a dental hygienist (odds ratio, 0.89; 95% CI, 0.67-1.19).
IN PRACTICE:
“Research indicates that treatment of early childhood caries using SDF by physicians in primary care settings is both feasible and acceptable…we conclude that SDF is an effective alternative for community-based prevention that may help address these existing barriers.”
SOURCE:
The study was funded by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI). It was led by Ryan Richard Ruff, PhD, MPH, associate professor in the Department of Epidemiology & Health Promotion at New York University College of Dentistry, New York.
LIMITATIONS:
The authors reported that youth may have received dental care outside of the study, which could have influenced the results. To account for that risk, they identified students who received outside care. In addition, > 3000 students were not included in the final analysis due to attrition.
DISCLOSURES:
Authors reported receiving grants from the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, the PCORI, and the National Institutes of Health. Richard Niederman, DMD, reported nonfinancial support from Colgate, GC America, and Elevate Oral Care and consulting fees from Delta Dental Washington outside the submitted work.
A version of this article appeared on Medscape.com.