Abstract:
Introduction: Atraumatic restorative technique (ART) has succeeded to gain enormous global attention. Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF) helps in controlling active carious lesions and aids in prevention of further advancement of caries.
Aim of the study: To clinically assess and compare the efficiency of conventional glass ionomer cement (Fuji IX) and SDF in arresting active dentin caries in primary molars.
Methods: A 25 children aged from 4-7 years with sixty primary molars, affected by active dentin carious lesion (scores 4 or 5) according to ICDAS II were recruited in the current study. All primary molars treated with modified ART. The treated primary molars divided into two groups regarding restorative material: group I restored with Fuji IX while group II with 38% SDF and Fuji IX. Treated primary molars assessed clinically for certain parameters and followed up for 3, 6, 9, 12 and 24 months.
Results: Regarding comparison of assessed clinical aspects (spontaneous pain, mobility, sensitivity to percussion and sinus or swelling) a statistically significant decreasing success rate in both group I (P-value <0.001, effect size = 0.364) and group II (P-value <0.001, effect size = 0.187) was found. Regarding Kaplan-Meier survival analysis the mean survival time for group I was 18.5 months and for group II was 22.1 months. No statistically significant difference between survival of both groups (P-value = 0.082).
Conclusion: A 38% SDF provides easy and efficacious substitutional method for treatment of early childhood caries in children versus conventional restorative treatment with higher longevity, treatment results and prognosis.