Background: Early childhood caries (ECC) is great global problem affects millions of children in preschool stage, identifying effective, low cost treating caries method is highly important to improve young children oral health. Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) application is considered as successful noninvasive approach in arresting dental decay in young children.
Aim: Evaluating the effect of SDF on postoperative pain, caries arrest (tactile sensation & visual examination) and new caries compare it with sodium fluoride varnish in treatment of carious primary teeth.
Methods: 62 Children with 298 carious primary teeth randomly allocated into: Group I: (38%) Silver Diamine Fluoride and group II: (5%) Sodium Fluoride Varnish (control group). Postoperative pain, tactile sensation and visual examination of caries arrest and new caries were reported after 3,6,9 and 12 months.
Results: Postoperative pain and new caries among children increased in group II than in group I after 6 and 12 months. While caries arrest increased in group I than in group II with statistically significant difference in all follow up periods.
Conclusions: Application of SDF is a conservative option in caries management among populations where surgical management of decay is not possible. A 5 % NaF is effective but less than SDF.