Preventive
John Schlotz, DDS
Pediatric Dentistry Resident Year 2
Indiana University School of Dentistry / Riley Hospital for Children
Indiana University School of Dentistry
Indianapolis, Indiana, United States
Gerardo Maupome, BDS, MSc, PhD
Indiana University School of Dentistry
Brian Sanders, DDS, MPH
Indiana University/Riley Hospital for Children
Juan F. Yepes, DDS, MD, MPH, MS, DrPH
Indiana University, Riley Hospital for Children
Allison C. Scully, DDS, MS
Assistant Professor
Indiana University/Riley Hospital for Children
Indiana University
Indianapolis, Indiana, United States
LaQuia A. Vinson, DDS, MPH
Pediatric Dentistry Residency Program Director
Indiana University/Riley Hospital for Children
Indianapolis, Indiana, United States
Purpose: The aim of this study is to longitudinally evaluate subsequent treatment outcomes of primary teeth that initially receive application of 38% silver diamine fluoride (SDF) using dental claims.
Methods: Two cohorts from 2018 and 2019 were evaluated for >24 months. Data from children 12 years old and younger with at least one primary tooth initially treated with SDF were obtained from a commercial dental insurance claims warehouse. All subsequent treatment on each tooth was recorded.
Results: Data from 46,884 patients [Mean(SD) Age [y]=5.7(2.3); male 48%; SDF-treated teeth=2.6(2.1)] were analyzed for >24 months. The odds of initial SDF-treated teeth receiving future additional treatment decreased with patient age (P < .001). Pediatric dentists provided initial SDF treatment more frequently than general dentists (67%). However, the odds of providing future additional treatment on SDF-treated teeth were lower for pediatric dentists (38%) than for general dentists (41%) (P < .001). The odds of additional treatment were higher for primary posterior teeth (40%) than anterior teeth (23%) (P < .001). Lastly, the odds of additional treatment were higher for teeth expected to exfoliate in greater than 2 years (P < .001).
Conclusions: Posterior primary teeth initially treated with SDF are more likely than anterior primary teeth to receive future additional treatment. Primary teeth with >2 years until anticipated exfoliation are more likely than teeth with < 2 years until anticipated exfoliation to receive additional treatment. Lastly, general dentists are more likely than pediatric dentists to provide future additional treatment on primary teeth initially treated with silver diamine fluoride.