Caries
Olivia Min, DMD
Pediatric Dental Resident
BronxCare Health System, New York, NY
BronxCare Health System
Fort Lee, New Jersey, United States
Evelyn Tejeda, DMD
Pediatric Dentistry Attending
BronxCare Health System
Bronx, New York, United States
Ingrid Dowrich, DDS, DDS
Bronxcare Health System
Ann Layvey-Tardalo, DMD, MPH
Bronxcare health System
bronx, New York, United States
Evelyn Tejeda, DMD
Pediatric Dentistry Attending
BronxCare Health System
Bronx, New York, United States
Ann Layvey-Tardalo, DMD, MPH
Bronxcare health System
bronx, New York, United States
Purpose: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of 38% silver diamine fluoride (SDF) at arresting dental caries for pediatric patients at BronxCare Health System.
Methods: This is a retrospective chart review evaluating pediatric patients (1 to 6 years old) who received SDF application from January 2016 to January 2021 at BronxCare Health System. Patients who had at least 1 follow-up visit after SDF application were eligible. Caries arrest was determined by clinical findings which include tactile probing with explorer and change of color (dark discoloration) upon SDF application. The sample size for this study was 175 subjects.
Results: Of the 175 charts analyzed in this study, the percentage of SDF treated teeth surfaces were 40% occlusal, 34% facial or lingual, and 26% mesial or distal. At 3-4 weeks follow up, facial or lingual surfaces displayed the highest caries arrest rate (93.2%), followed by occlusal surface (64.3%) and interproximal surfaces (63%). Overall caries arrest rate of SDF treated teeth was 73.7% when evaluated at 3-4 weeks follow up.
Conclusions: In this study, SDF effectiveness was strongly associated with the surfaces of teeth. Facial and lingual surfaces demonstrated the highest rate of caries arrest, which suggests that direct visibility of carious lesion may determine the effectiveness of SDF. These findings also support previous studies which indicated that smooth surface lesions had a higher rate of caries arrest with SDF due to their easy accessibility and cleansibiltiy.
Overall caries arrest rate of SDF treated teeth was 73.7% in this population. Facial or lingual surfaces displayed the highest caries arrest rate (93.2%), compared to occlusal and interproximal surfaces.