A study funded by NIH discovers that the non-invasive use of silver diamine fluoride is more effective than placebo.
A large clinical trial funded by the
Researchers recruited children between the ages of 1 and 5 with severe tooth decay. An interim analysis of 599 children evaluated the proportion of cavity lesions in which decay progression was stopped six months after a single treatment with SDF or a placebo.
To document the effectiveness of SDF, the researchers measured the hardness of cavities before and after treatment. When decay is ongoing, the affected part of the tooth is soft, whereas a hardening of the area indicates that decay has been stopped. The team reported no safety concerns with the treatment. Because the planned interim analysis revealed that the study had met its primary endpoint — to show that SDF was effective in halting the progression of cavities — the trial was stopped early. Ending a trial early can allow particularly effective interventions to move toward FDA approval, and thus, availability to patients, sooner.
Implications and Future Directions
“SDF marketing authorization from FDA for treating dental cavities could lead to SDF becoming more widely available; more acceptable among providers, patients, and parents; and more likely to be covered by insurance,” said Dena Fischer, D.D.S., M.S.D., M.S., director of NIDCR’s Center for Clinical Research and the Clinical Trials and Practice-Based Research Program. “Increasing patients’ access to caries treatment is essential for reaching children who are most in need.”
Researchers are now analyzing the final data on over 800 children, including assessing SDF’s effects on tooth pain and quality of life, as well as potential side effects. Because SDF can darken the color of cavities, which may not be aesthetically pleasing, the researchers are also evaluating patient and parent satisfaction and acceptability. While SDF appears to be quite effective, not every cavity responded to the treatment. Scientists will use future studies to figure out why.
“Oral health problems, such as untreated tooth decay, can have many public health impacts that affect both children and adults,” said NIDCR Director Rena D’Souza, D.D.S., Ph.D., M.S. “This study provides evidence that SDF could be a powerful tool against cavities and help improve health and well-being of children.”
Tooth decay is the most common chronic disease of childhood, affecting nearly 46% of children in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It disproportionately affects Hispanic and non-Hispanic Black children and children from lower-income households. Left untreated, cavities can put children at risk for chronic pain, impaired development, and long-term oral and overall health problems. In severe cases, bacteria from a tooth infection can even travel through the body and cause death.
Reference: “A Randomized Clinical Trial to Assess Caries Arrest by Using Silver Diamine Fluoride in U.S. Children: Interim Findings” by Margherita Fontana, Divya Khera, Steven Levy, George Eckert, Barry Katz, Emily Yanca, Carlos González-Cabezas and Amr Moursi, 15 January 2024, Pediatric Dentistry.
PMID: 38449039
This research was supported by NIDCR grant UH3-DE027372. For more information about the trial, visit clinicaltrials.gov and search identifier NCT 03649659.