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Silver Diamine Fluoride Pilot Study (SDF)

Effectiveness of Silver Diamine Fluoride in Arresting Early Approximal Carious Lesion Progression: A Pilot Study

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT02591147
Acronym
SDF
Enrollment
41
Registered
2015-10-29
Start date
2016-01-07
Completion date
2022-06-30
Last updated
2023-03-14

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Dental Caries

Brief summary

This pilot trial is randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled trial with two parallel arms: an intervention group using silver diamine fluoride (SDF) and a placebo group (control). 60 eligible healthy adults will be enrolled in the study and randomly assigned to one of the two treatment groups. Both groups will receive the traditional preventive measures including cleanings, Fluoride varnish, diet analysis and counseling. Study participants will be followed for one year and caries progression will be radiographically monitored.

Detailed description

This pilot study will compare 1) Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) and fluoride varnish to 2) Placebo and fluoride varnish (conventional prevention) in the management of early approximal carious lesions. Early approximal carious lesions refers to decay between teeth, diagnosed with radiographs, not extending more than 1/3 of the way into dentin. Management of early approximal carious lesions refers to halting lesion progression, or encouraging lesion reversal after an early carious lesion is detected. SDF provides a novel, low-cost intervention option for managing early carious lesions that could potentially bridge the 'gap' between non-operative and operative options; thus, postponing the first placement of a restoration. SDF has been used in arresting carious lesions for more than 100 years. However, SDF has never been tested in the arrest of approximal caries lesions in permanent teeth. SDF acts to both prevent and arrest tooth decay in multiple ways: 1) it acts on the body of carious lesions by precipitating silver ion into the lesion, thus blocking diffusion pathways for cariogenic acids; 2) it interacts with dental enamel leading to the formation of fluoroapatite crystals making the tooth surface more acid resistant; and 3) the precipitated silver from SDF acts as a bactericidal agent disturbing the formation of cariogenic biofilm.

Interventions

Group 1 (SDF group) subjects will receive the application of silver diamine fluoride (38% SDF solution) in addition to 5% Fluoride varnish to each approximal incipiency, using super floss, for a duration of 3 minutes under rubber dam isolation.

DEVICEGroup 2 (Placebo)

Group 2 (Placebo) subjects will receive application of sterile water (placebo) in addition to 5% Fluoride varnish to each approximal incipiency, using super floss, for a duration of 3 minutes under rubber dam isolation.

Sponsors

Justine Kolker
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH
Masking
DOUBLE (Subject, Investigator)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
21 Years to 64 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

* Presence of at least one approximal caries lesion (scores RA1, RA2, RA3 according to the ICCMS radiographic scoring system) in one of the posterior teeth (premolars and molars) presented with full contact with the adjacent tooth. * All the surfaces eligible for this study will be included.

Exclusion criteria

* The approximal lesion detected in the radiograph has advanced dentine lesion (RB4, RC5, or RC6) * or is adjacent to a lesion that is either filled or will receive a filling at the time of enrollment.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Assessment of Radiographic Change in Dental CavityBaseline, 12 months after blinded treatment with either Silver Diamine Fluoride 38% or placebo (sterile water)Determine if there is a change in the size of the dental cavity from baseline to 12 months after blinded treatment with either Silver Diamine Fluoride 38% or placebo (sterile water). This measurement will be assessed using radiographic examination to determine if there is either evidence of no radiographic change, radiographic progression, or radiographic regression.

Countries

United States

Participant flow

Participants by arm

ArmCount
Silver Diamine Fluoride 38%
Group 1 (SDF 38%) will receive the application of silver diammine fluoride (38% SDF solution) in addition to 5% sodium fluoride varnish to each approximal carious lesion (scores RA1,RA2,RA3) in a posterior tooth (premolar or molar) that is in contact with an adjacent tooth, using super floss, for a duration of 3 minutes under rubber dam isolation. Silver Diamine Fluoride 38%: Group 1 (SDF group) subjects will receive the application of silver diamine fluoride (38% SDF solution) in addition to 5% Fluoride varnish to each approximal incipiency, using super floss, for a duration of 3 minutes under rubber dam isolation.
20
Placebo (Sterile Water)
Group 2 Placebo (control) will receive the application of sterile water (placebo) in addition to 5% sodium fluoride varnish to each approximal carious lesion (scores RA1,RA2,RA3) in a posterior tooth (premolar or molar) that is in contact with an adjacent tooth, using super floss, for a duration of 3 minutes under rubber dam isolation. Group 2 (Placebo): Group 2 (Placebo) subjects will receive application of sterile water (placebo) in addition to 5% Fluoride varnish to each approximal incipiency, using super floss, for a duration of 3 minutes under rubber dam isolation.
21
Total41

Baseline characteristics

CharacteristicSilver Diamine Fluoride 38%Placebo (Sterile Water)Total
Age, Categorical
<=18 years
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Age, Categorical
>=65 years
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Age, Categorical
Between 18 and 65 years
20 Participants21 Participants41 Participants
Race and Ethnicity Not Collected0 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
13 Participants13 Participants26 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
7 Participants8 Participants15 Participants

Adverse events

Event typeEG000
affected / at risk
EG001
affected / at risk
deaths
Total, all-cause mortality
0 / 200 / 21
other
Total, other adverse events
0 / 200 / 21
serious
Total, serious adverse events
0 / 200 / 21

Outcome results

Primary

Assessment of Radiographic Change in Dental Cavity

Determine if there is a change in the size of the dental cavity from baseline to 12 months after blinded treatment with either Silver Diamine Fluoride 38% or placebo (sterile water). This measurement will be assessed using radiographic examination to determine if there is either evidence of no radiographic change, radiographic progression, or radiographic regression.

Time frame: Baseline, 12 months after blinded treatment with either Silver Diamine Fluoride 38% or placebo (sterile water)

ArmMeasureCategoryValue (COUNT_OF_PARTICIPANTS)
Silver Diamine Fluoride 38%Assessment of Radiographic Change in Dental CavityNo radiographic change9 Participants
Silver Diamine Fluoride 38%Assessment of Radiographic Change in Dental CavityRadiographic progression3 Participants
Silver Diamine Fluoride 38%Assessment of Radiographic Change in Dental CavityRadiographic regression6 Participants
Placebo (Sterile Water)Assessment of Radiographic Change in Dental CavityNo radiographic change11 Participants
Placebo (Sterile Water)Assessment of Radiographic Change in Dental CavityRadiographic progression2 Participants
Placebo (Sterile Water)Assessment of Radiographic Change in Dental CavityRadiographic regression3 Participants

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026