Coronal carious lesions arrest · Children with coronal carious lesions (primary dentition)
One review reported prevented fractions of 55 to 96% favouring 38% SDF over fluoride varnish or placebo for arresting coronal caries in primary teeth (two studies; ungraded).
1 finding from 1 review
Prevented Fraction 55–96
2 studies
GRADE not reported
Coronal carious lesions arrest · Children with coronal carious lesions (primary dentition)
One review reported a risk ratio of 2.54 favouring SDF over placebo/no treatment for arresting coronal caries in primary teeth (no CI; ungraded).
1 finding from 1 review
RR 2.54
2 studies
GRADE not reported
Coronal carious lesions arrest · Children with coronal carious lesions (primary dentition)
One review reported a risk ratio of 1.66 favouring SDF over fluoride varnish or ART for arresting coronal caries in primary teeth (no CI; ungraded).
1 finding from 1 review
RR 1.66
2 studies
GRADE not reported
Coronal carious lesions arrest · Children with coronal carious lesions (primary dentition)
Across three reviews, 38% SDF arrested 65 to 91% of coronal lesions in primary teeth, outperforming fluoride varnish (38 to 44%), glass ionomer cement (39 to 82%), and placebo (34%) (ungraded).
1 finding from 1 review
Arrest rate 65–91
6 studies
GRADE not reported
Coronal carious lesions prevention · Children with coronal carious lesions (primary dentition)
One review reported glass ionomer cement was more effective than 30% SDF at 12 months (PF −6%), but the difference was not statistically significant (ungraded).
1 finding from 1 review
Prevented Fraction -6
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported
Coronal carious lesions prevention · Children with coronal carious lesions (primary dentition)
Reported prevented fractions for 38% SDF versus placebo for coronal-caries prevention in primary teeth ranged 70 to 78% (two reviews, two studies; ungraded).
1 finding from 1 review
Prevented Fraction 70–78
2 studies
GRADE not reported
Coronal carious lesions prevention · Children with dental caries in permanent (first) molars
One review reported a 64% prevented fraction for 38% SDF versus placebo for preventing coronal caries in permanent first molars (one study; ungraded).
1 finding from 1 review
Prevented Fraction 64
1 study
GRADE not reported
Caries arrestment at the surface level · Children and adults without systemic diseases affecting dental health
SDF showed no clear advantage for caries arrestment at the surface level.
1 finding from 1 review
Secondary prevention of caries · Children and adults (with or without carious lesions)
The review found no eligible studies for this question.
1 finding from 1 review
Aesthetics · Children and adults (with or without carious lesions)
It is very uncertain whether silver diamine fluoride (SDF) changes aesthetics compared with fluoride varnish (very low certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
Dental pain or sensitivity · Children and adults (with or without carious lesions)
The review found no eligible studies for this question.
1 finding from 1 review
Secondary prevention of caries · Children and adults (with or without carious lesions)
The review found no eligible studies for this question.
1 finding from 1 review
Adverse effects · Children and adults (with or without carious lesions)
1 finding from 1 review
Adverse effects · Children and adults (with or without carious lesions)
1 finding from 1 review
In 1 study, people complained about a transient bitter taste associated with SDF (with no associated data), with no other adverse effects. In another study, there were no adverse effects. No studies reported this…
2 studies · 336 participants
Very low
Dental pain or sensitivity · Children and adults (with or without carious lesions)
It is very uncertain whether silver diamine fluoride (SDF) changes dental pain or sensitivity compared with atraumatic restorative treatment (ART) with glass ionomer cement… (very low certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
Caries arrest · Children and adults (with or without carious lesions)
The review found no eligible studies for this question.
1 finding from 1 review
Caries arrest · Children and adults (with or without carious lesions)
The review found no eligible studies for this question.
1 finding from 1 review
Adverse effects · Children and adults (with or without carious lesions)
1 finding from 1 review
In 1 study, 115 of 118 children had black stains on teeth treated with SDF; there were no other adverse effects or allergic reactions. In 1 study, the rate of adverse effects reported by caregiver and person who…
3 studies · 482 participants
Very low
Caries arrest · Children and adults (with or without carious lesions)
It is very uncertain whether silver diamine fluoride (SDF) changes caries arrest compared with placebo or no treatment (very low certainty).
3 findings from 1 review
MD 0.20 [0.00, 0.40]
1 study · 373 participants
Very low
MD 0.24 [0.12, 0.36]
1 study · 158 participants
Very low
MD 0.86 [0.39, 1.33]
2 studies · 841 participants
Low
Aesthetics · Children and adults (with or without carious lesions)
The review found no eligible studies for this question.
1 finding from 1 review