New coronal carious lesions or fillings on permanent (first) molars (caries prevention) · Children with dental caries in permanent (first) molars
One-time 38% SDF gave a 57% prevented fraction for caries in children's permanent first molars (single study; ungraded).
1 finding from 1 review
Restoration color, marginal staining and luster (esthetics) · Children with deep occlusal caries in young permanent first molars (indirect pulp capping)
RMGIC gave significantly better restoration esthetics than SDF, which caused black staining (p=0.03; ungraded).
1 finding from 1 review
Baraka et al. (2022): significant differences in restoration color, marginal staining and luster favoring RMGIC over both SDF groups (p=0.03); SDF caused black staining that darkened over time.
1 study · 49 participants
GRADE not reported
Caries arrest · Children with dentine carious lesions (ICDAS 4-5) in primary teeth
A second meta-analysis reported odds ratios of 2.44 to 3.63 favouring 38% SDF over fluoride varnish/water for caries arrest (ungraded).
2 findings from 1 review
OR (caries arrest) OR 2.44-3.63 (range); 2.44 = Chu estimate including 30% SDF
3 studies
GRADE not reported
Proportion (caries arrest) 81 [68, 89]
12 studies
GRADE not reported
Remineralization/arrest of early enamel carious lesions · Patients with early enamel carious lesions on permanent molars
For early enamel lesions, annual SDF+KI was significantly LESS effective than twice-daily tricalcium silicate paste (54.8% vs 100% arrested; p<0.001; ungraded).
1 finding from 1 review
new root-surface carious lesions or restorations · community-dwelling older adults with root caries
SDF plus oral health education had a 33% preventative fraction at 24 months; no pooled estimate or GRADE rating was reported.
1 finding from 1 review
Arrest or reversal of noncavitated and cavitated root carious lesions · Adults (including institutionalized/older adults) with noncavitated and cavitated carious lesions on root surfaces (permanent teeth)
38% SDF solution (applied annually) may not differ from 5% NaF varnish for arrest or reversal of root carious lesions (RR 0.64, 95% CI 0.04 to 9.66; very low certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
Arrest or reversal of noncavitated and cavitated root carious lesions · Adults (including institutionalized/older adults) with noncavitated and cavitated carious lesions on root surfaces (permanent teeth)
38% SDF solution (applied annually) may not differ from no treatment for arrest or reversal of root carious lesions (RR 1.92, 95% CI 0.52 to 6.87; very low certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
Arrest of advanced cavitated carious lesions on any coronal surface · Preschool children with advanced cavitated carious lesions on any coronal surface (primary teeth)
38% SDF solution (applied annually) was more effective than 12% SDF solution (applied annually) for arrest or reversal of cavitated coronal carious lesions (RR 1.27, 95% CI 1.16 to 1.4; high certainty).
4 findings from 1 review
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Arrest or reversal of noncavitated and cavitated root carious lesions · Adults (including institutionalized/older adults) with noncavitated and cavitated carious lesions on root surfaces (permanent teeth)
38% SDF solution (applied annually) may not differ from 5,000-ppm F (1.1% NaF) toothpaste or gel for arrest or reversal of root carious lesions (RR 0.72, 95% CI 0.18 to 2.95; very low certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
Arrest or reversal of noncavitated and cavitated root carious lesions · Adults (including institutionalized/older adults) with noncavitated and cavitated carious lesions on root surfaces (permanent teeth)
38% SDF solution (applied annually) may not differ from 38% SDF + potassium iodide solution (applied annually) for arrest or reversal of root carious lesions (RR 0.8, 95% CI 0.25 to 2.61; low certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
new root-surface carious lesions or restorations · community-dwelling older adults with root caries
SDF had a 62% preventative fraction; no pooled estimate or GRADE rating was reported.
1 finding from 1 review
Arrest of advanced cavitated carious lesions on any coronal surface · Preschool children with advanced cavitated carious lesions on any coronal surface (primary teeth)
38% SDF solution (applied biannually) was more effective than 12% SDF solution (applied biannually) for arrest or reversal of cavitated coronal carious lesions (RR 1.3, 95% CI 1.21 to 1.41; high certainty).
4 findings from 1 review
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Arrest of advanced cavitated carious lesions on any coronal surface · Preschool children with advanced cavitated carious lesions on any coronal surface (primary teeth)
38% SDF solution (applied biannually) was more effective than 38% SDF solution (applied annually) for arrest or reversal of cavitated coronal carious lesions (RR 1.21, 95% CI 1.12 to 1.3; high certainty).
4 findings from 1 review
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Caries arrest · Children (age 1-10 years) with active cavitated dentin caries lesions in primary molars
38% SDF arrested more caries than 12% SDF (pooled ES 0.37, 95% CI 0.27-0.47; single study; ungraded).
1 finding from 1 review
new root-surface carious lesions or restorations · community-dwelling older adults with root caries
SDF had a 28% preventative fraction at 24 months; no pooled estimate or GRADE rating was reported.
1 finding from 1 review
Caries arrest · Children with dentine carious lesions (ICDAS 4-5) in primary teeth
Twice-yearly 38% SDF was reported to arrest more caries than once-yearly application (24-month rates 91% vs 79%; ungraded).
1 finding from 1 review
Secondary prevention of caries · children with deep occlusal carious lesions in permanent molars
No significant difference in secondary caries prevention was reported; no effect estimate or GRADE rating was reported.
1 finding from 1 review
Caries arrest · Children (age 1-10 years) with active cavitated dentin caries lesions in primary molars
SDF was not significantly better than ART at arresting caries (pooled ES 0.05, 95% CI -0.42 to 0.51; ungraded).
1 finding from 1 review
Arrest of dentine caries · Preschool children with active dentine caries in primary teeth (mean age 3.4-4.0 years)
Silver diamine fluoride was about 2.5 times more likely than sodium fluoride to arrest dentine caries surfaces at 18 months (pooled OR 2.51, 95% CI 1.25 to 5.10; 2 RCTs), although between-study heterogeneity was high (I2=90.3%); certainty of evidence was not formally graded.
2 findings from 1 review
new root-surface carious lesions or restorations · Older adults with root caries in permanent (mature) teeth (mean age 75 years)
SDF had a 71% preventative fraction at 36 months; no pooled estimate or GRADE rating was reported.
1 finding from 1 review