Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF) Efficacy in Arresting Cavitated Caries Lesions in Primary Molars: A Systematic Review and Metanalysis

Luciano Zaffarano, Claudia Salerno, Guglielmo Campus (), Silvia Cirio, Araxi Balian, Lorena Karanxha and Maria Grazia Cagetti
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Luciano Zaffarano: Department of Biomedical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, University of Milan, Via Beldiletto 1, 20142 Milan, Italy
Claudia Salerno: Department of Biomedical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, University of Milan, Via Beldiletto 1, 20142 Milan, Italy
Guglielmo Campus: Department of Restorative, Preventive and Pediatric Dentistry, University of Bern, Freiburgstrasse 7, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
Silvia Cirio: Department of Biomedical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, University of Milan, Via Beldiletto 1, 20142 Milan, Italy
Araxi Balian: Department of Biomedical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, University of Milan, Via Beldiletto 1, 20142 Milan, Italy
Lorena Karanxha: Department of Biomedical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, University of Milan, Via Beldiletto 1, 20142 Milan, Italy
Maria Grazia Cagetti: Department of Biomedical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, University of Milan, Via Beldiletto 1, 20142 Milan, Italy

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 19, 1-13

Abstract: A systematic review and meta-analysis were carried out to evaluate the efficacy of silver diamine fluoride (SDF) in controlling caries progression in cavitated primary molars. A search for randomized and non-randomized trials with follow-up > 6 months was performed using PubMed, Scopus and Embase. The Cochrane risk of bias tools were used for the quality assessment. The success rate and odds ratios were chosen to calculate the effect size for the meta-analysis. A total of 792 papers were identified and 9 were selected. A high variability regarding SDF application protocol was found; otherwise, caries arrest was always recorded using visual/tactile methods. Two studies were judged at low risk of bias, six at moderate risk and one at high risk. Data from five studies were aggregated for meta-analysis. Heterogeneity was found moderate (I 2 = 35.69%, p = 0.18). SDF application was found to be overall effective (fixed effect model) in arresting caries progression (ES = 0.35, p < 0.01). In a total of 622 arrested lesions, out of 1205 considered, the caries arrest rate was 51.62% ± 27.40% (Confidence = 1.55) using SDF ≥ 38% applied annually or biannually. In conclusion, when applied to active cavitated caries lesions in primary molars, SDF appears to be effective in arresting dental caries progression, especially if applied biannually.

Keywords: silver diamine fluoride; SDF; dental caries; primary teeth; non-invasive treatment; minimally invasive treatment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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