The Effectiveness of Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF) on Caries Lesions in Adults: retrospective study evaluating the longevity of SDF treated teeth in adult patients using a dental school data record

Abstract

Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) is used to treat dental caries lesions on primary teeth in children and have been found effective. Adults may also benefit from the use of SDF in treating exposed initial root caries lesions, yet such studies are lacking. The aim of this retrospective study was to determine the factors related to longevity of adult patients’ teeth after SDF treatment. Methods: Data from the University of Iowa College of Dentistry data base (AxiUm) were used for this study. Patients aged 18 years and older with one or more code D1354 between 2016 and 2021 were included. Patient variables included: age, gender, race, number of medications, smoking status, insurance status, and number of D1354 codes overall. Tooth variables included: tooth number, number of D1354 codes applied on the tooth, and subsequent treatment (restoration, root canal treatment, extraction). Operator variables included: provider type (student, post-grad, faculty) and type of clinic (geriatric vs. other). The dependent outcome variable was survival defined as not needing subsequent treatment. Statistical software was used to calculate chi-square values used for analyses to determine relationship between variables and survival. Results: Results included 1772 patients with 2985 SDF treated teeth. Patients that had significantly higher failure (p <.001 to <.05) with tobacco use. Teeth with crowns prior to SDF treatment had higher chance of failure. Multiple applications of SDF had higher chances of not failing.