PURPOSE: Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) is a caries prevention and arresting agent that is easy to apply clinically. Interim therapeutic restorations (IRT) are also known to be a simple and effective method for treating caries in children. This study examines whether treatment with 30% silver diamine fluoride (SDF) will cause fewer adverse events than the available interim therapeutic restorations in underprivileged schoolchildren with cavities. METHODS: We conducted a three-month pilot study comparing the adverse effects of IRT using glass ionomer cement (Fuji IX, GC America, Inc.) with those of 30% silver diamine fluoride (Cariostop Biodynamic®, Brazil) in 50 children aged 6 years. RESULTS: In the SDF group, all caries were arrested and no pain, abscess or fistula was reported. Of the children assigned to the Fuji IX group, 24% reported toothache (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the occurrence of fistula and abscess in the two groups. CONCLUSION: The authors suggest that for underprivileged schoolchildren with caries, the use of SDF when an appropriate clinical setting is not available resulted in fewer adverse effects than did treatment with an interim therapeutic restorative using FUJI IX.
Dental caries; children; silver diamine fluoride; interim therapeutic restorative
