Cariostatic efficacy and children acceptance of nano-silver fluoride versus silver diamine fluoride: a randomized controlled clinical trial

Introduction
Untreated caries in primary teeth is considered one of the most common epidemic problems around the world. The aim of this study was to evaluate the cariostatic efficacy and patient acceptance of nano-silver fluoride (NSF) compared to silver diamine fluoride (SDF) 38% in primary teeth in preschool children.

Material and methods
119 children, with a total of 244 active dentin lesions were randomly assigned into two groups: NSF group included 60 children with 122 lesions, and SDF group consisted of 59 children with 122 lesions. Outcome assessments were performed at 3 weeks and 6 months after treatment using Nyvad criteria to assess the activity of carious lesions. Wong-Baker® faces pain rating scale was used to assess children acceptance for the treatment.

Results
After 3 weeks, 94 (77%) lesions in NSF group were arrested, while 110 (90%) lesion were arrested in SDF group (p > 0.05). After six months, the arrest rate in NSF and SDF groups was 67.2% and 79.5%, respectively (p > 0.05). However, the arrest rate of single surface lesions on anterior teeth was higher after six months in both groups (p < 0.05). Furthermore, patient acceptance scores were not statistically different in both groups (p > 0.05).

Conclusions
Both SDF and NSF were effective in arresting carious dentine lesions and were accepted by preschool children.