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Dental caries is a widespread oral health issue in Asia, affecting an estimated 30% to 90% of children and adults. Many caries cases remain untreated, resulting in pain and infection. In response, the Asian Academy of Preventive Dentistry (AAPD) emphasises comprehensive caries management and organised a fluoride workshop at the 15th International Conference of the AAPD in 2023. The AAPD invited a group of experts to form a fluoride working group to review existing literature and develop fluoride recommendations for stakeholders across Asian countries and regions. The working group assessed caries risk and identified commonly used topical fluoride products for home care, professional, and community settings in Asia. The working group concluded that fluoride is a safe and highly effective strategy to reduce caries prevalence and incidence. The working group provided key recommendations based on successful regional caries management practices: (1) use topical fluoride for prevention and control of dental caries; (2) encourage the use of fluoride toothpaste with a concentration of at least 1,000 ppm for effective caries reduction; (3) advise a 0.05% fluoride mouth rinse as soon as children can spit it out to prevent early childhood caries; (4) deliver professionally administered fluoride, such as 5% sodium fluoride varnish, 2% fluoride gel, or 1.23% acidulated phosphate fluoride preparations, to decrease dental caries in at-risk individuals; and (5) apply 38% silver diamine fluoride to arrest cavitated caries. These recommendations aim to help practitioners, health care providers, and parents/caregivers make informed decisions about fluoride use as part of comprehensive oral health care in the region., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest None disclosed., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: The United Nation's Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6 calls for universal access to clean water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), which are crucial elements of health and well-being and fundamental for a life in dignity. Early childhood caries (ECC) is a preventable disease affecting health and quality of life of millions of young children worldwide. This scoping review aims to explore the connection between ECC and access to clean water and sanitation., Methods: This scoping review, registered on the Open Science Framework and following PRISMA-ScR guidelines, conducted a thorough search in databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Google Scholar, SciELO) and websites (via Google) in November 2023. The search, without date limitations, targeted studies in English and Spanish linking ECC to SDG6. Exclusions were made for studies solely focusing on ECC without a direct connection to clean water and sanitation. Descriptive statistics summarized the retrieved papers., Results: The initial search yielded 303 articles. After removing duplicates, 264 articles remained for title and abstract screening after which 244 were excluded and one report was added through citation searching. The 21 remaining articles underwent full text review. There were no studies on a direct association between access to clean water and sanitation and the prevalence of ECC. There were nine studies that showed indirect associations between ECC and access to clean water and sanitation through the links of: water and sanitation access as a marker for poverty (n = 1), water consumption as a feeding practice (n = 4), and the effectiveness of water fluoridation (n = 4). These were used to develop a conceptual model., Conclusions: While it is conceivable that a direct link exists between ECC and access to clean water and sanitation, the available body of research only offers evidence of indirect associations. The exploration of potential pathways connecting water access to ECC warrants further investigation in future research., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

This ex-vivo study investigated the effect of a light-emitting diode (LED) curing light on the depth of penetration of Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF) into carious lesions. Twenty-four primary teeth with untreated caries lesions were allocated into groups and treated within 5 min after extraction: (1) n = 6 treated for 1 min with one drop of SDF followed by 10 sec rinse with tap water, (2) n = 6 treated for 10 sec with one drop of SDF and exposed to LED light for 20 sec (30 sec total SDF exposure) followed by 10 sec rinse with tap water, (3) n = 6 treated for 10 sec with one drop of SDF followed by a 10 sec rinse with tap water, (4) n = 3 untreated, and (5) n = 3 untreated but exposed to LED light for 20 sec. Samples were prepared, embedded, sectioned and silver penetration was measured using backscattered electron imaging in the scanning electron microscope and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analysis. Results were expressed as the average relative depth of penetration (%) = Ag depth/lesion depth × 100 from 5 sites in each lesion. Group means were compared using mixed model analysis. Mean ± standard deviation (SD) penetration was: 86.4 ± 20.7% in Group 1, 94.3 ± 13.7% in Group 2, and 26.7 ± 13.9% in Group 3. Groups 1 and 2 were statistically similar and different from Group 3 ( p < 0.001). Groups 4 and 5 had no silver present. Use of LED light for 20 sec after 10 sec SDF application appears to facilitate silver penetration, similar to a 1 min SDF application. Clinical studies are needed to define the role of silver penetration in sustained caries arrest., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (©2023 The Author(s). Published by MRE Press.)

Aim: The objective of this scoping review is to present current evidence regarding the association between early childhood caries (ECC) and maternal-related gender inequality., Methods: Two independent reviewers performed a comprehensive literature search using three databases: EMBASE, PubMed, and Web of Science. Literature published in English from 2012 to 2022 was included in the search and was restricted to only primary research by using the following key terms: "dental caries", "tooth decay", "gender", "sex", "preschool", "toddler," and "infant". The included studies were limited to those reporting an association between ECC and maternal aspects related to gender inequality. Titles and abstracts were screened, and irrelevant publications were excluded. The full text of the remaining papers was retrieved and used to perform the review. The critical appraisal of selected studies was guided by the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Critical Appraisal Tools., Results: Among 1,103 studies from the three databases, 425 articles were identified based on publication years between 2012 and 2022. After full-text screening, five articles were included in the qualitative analysis for this review. No published study was found regarding a direct association between ECC and maternal gender inequality at the level of individuals. Five included studies reported on the association between ECC and potential maternal-gender-related inequality factors, including the mother's education level (n = 4), employment status (n = 1), and age (n = 1). Regarding the quality of the included studies, out of five, two studies met all JBI criteria, while three partially met the criteria., Conclusions: Based on the findings of this scoping review, evidence demonstrating an association between gender inequality and ECC is currently limited., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Purpose: To evaluate the rehardening ability of SDF and its individual components, silver, and fluoride ions, on early enamel caries lesions using artificial saliva with and without mucin., Methods: Early caries lesions were created in human permanent enamel specimens. The specimens (n=36 per group) were then treated with a single application of: SDF (38%), SDF followed by application of potassium iodide (SDF+KI), potassium fluoride (KF); fluoride control, 44,800 ppm (F), silver nitrate (AgNO3); silver control, 253,900 ppm (Ag), or deionized water (DIW). Immediately, the specimens were subjected to 4 days of continuous remineralization with or without mucin (n=18 per subgroup). Changes in Vickers surface microhardness from lesion baseline (ΔVHN) were calculated. Data were analyzed using two-way (intervention vs. rehardening models) ANOVA., Results: In both rehardening models (with or without mucin), SDF (ΔVHN data; mean ± standard deviation; with/without mucin: 26± 19/3± 11) was significantly less effective in rehardening promotion than SDF+KI (37± 12/39± 16) and KF (40± 17/41± 29; P≤ 0.0332). Compared to AgNO3 (9± 9/18± 15) and DIW (3± 7/12± 9), SDF was more effective in the presence of mucin (P≤ 0.001) but not in its absence, similar to DIW (P= 0.1117); less effective vs. AgNO3 (P= 0.0061). The presence of mucin significantly increased the rehardening ability of SDF (P< 0.0001). However, mucin did not affect the extent of rehardening in the other groups (P≥ 0.082). SDF+KI and KF were superior in their ability in rehardening promotion than AgNO3 and DIW in both rehardening models (P< 0.0001). In both rehardening models, ΔL* values from baseline to post-rehardening show that applying KI after SDF significantly lessened the dark staining caused by SDF (P< 0.0001). Under the present in vitro conditions, SDF does not appear to enhance surface rehardening of early enamel caries lesions. The co-presence of mucin during rehardening enhanced the efficacy of SDF which warrants further investigation., Clinical Significance: Silver diamine fluoride + potassium iodide may be a viable option in rehardening of early enamel caries lesions., Competing Interests: The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest. This work was supported by the Indiana University School of Dentistry Department of Cariology, Operative Dentistry and Dental Public Health and by the Oral Health Research Institute Remineralization Research Program. The authors are indebted to Elevate Oral Care LLC, Florida, USA for providing SDF (Advantage Arrest) free of charge., (Copyright©American Journal of Dentistry.)

The objective of this pilot study was to describe the microbial profiles present in the plaque and saliva of children who continued to develop new carious lesions following treatment with silver diamine fluoride ("nonresponders") compared to caries active, caries-free, and children immediately receiving SDF treatment for untreated caries in order to identify potential microbial differences that may relate to a re-incidence of caries. Saliva and plaque samples from infected and contralateral sites were obtained from twenty children who were either caries free, had active carious lesions, were caries active and received SDF treatment immediately before sampling, or had previously received SDF treatment and developed new caries. In total, 8,057,899 Illumina-generated sequence reads from 60 samples were obtained. Reads were processed using the Quantitative Insights Into Microbial Ecology pipeline. Group differences were assessed using Analysis of Variance Models and Tukey Honest Significant Differences. To identify significant taxa between treatment groups, Linear discriminant analysis Effect Size (LefSe) and Analysis of Differential Abundance Taking Sample Variation Into Account were used. Differential abundant analysis indicated that members of the Lachnospiraceae family were significantly enriched in non-responders and the genus Tannerella and species Granulicatella adiances were also highly abundant in this group. LefSe analysis between non-responders and SDF-treated groups revealed that genera Leptotrichia and Granulicatella were enriched in non-responders. We observed the highest abundance of phosphotransferase system and lowest abundance of lipopolysaccharide synthesis in non-responders. The microbiome in dental biofilms is responsible for initiation and progression of dental caries. SDF has been shown to be effective in arresting the progression carious lesions, in part due to its antimicrobial properties. Findings suggest that the differential abundance of select microbiota and specific pathway functioning in individuals that present with recurrent decay after SDF treatment may contribute to a potential failure of silver diamine fluoride to arrest dental caries. However, the short duration of sample collection following SDF application and the small sample size emphasize the need for further data and additional analysis., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Objectives: This study investigated the ability of SDF, and its individual components, silver (Ag + ) and fluoride (F - ) ions, in preventing enamel demineralization under pH-cycling conditions in the presence or absence of twice-daily fluoride application., Design: Polished human enamel specimens were assigned to five treatment groups (n = 36 per group): SDF (38 %); SDF followed by application of a saturated solution of potassium iodide (SDF + KI); silver nitrate (AgNO 3 ; silver control, 253,900 ppm Ag); potassium fluoride (KF; fluoride control, 44,800 ppm F); deionized water. Treatments were applied once. Specimens in each treatment group were divided into two subgroups (n = 18). During the subsequent 7-day pH-cycling phase, specimens were treated twice daily with either 275 ppm fluoride as sodium fluoride or deionized water, immediately before and after a 3-h cariogenic challenge with exposure to artificial saliva at all other times. Changes in color, Vickers surface microhardness (SMH), transverse microradiography (TMR) was calculated. Data were analyzed using two-way ANOVA., Results: In both models, SDF, SDF + KI and KF were superior in inhibiting demineralization compared to AgNO 3 and deionized water (p < 0.0001). There was no statistically significant difference between SDF, SDF + KI and KF with twice daily fluoride treatments (p > 0.8). However, KF was more effective in preventing demineralization than SDF and SDF + KI in the absence of fluoride treatments (p = 0.0002). KI did not affect the ability of SDF to prevent demineralization (p > 0.4)., Conclusion: SDF and SDF + KI appears to be an effective option in preventing primary coronal caries., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Nonsurgical caries management, particularly silver diamine fluoride (SDF) and Hall-style crowns, present alternative options for populations that have barriers to traditional treatment. The authors aimed to assess changes in the teaching and utilization of these modalities in pediatric dental residency programs., Methods: The authors e-mailed a 29-question electronic survey regarding the utilization and teaching of nonsurgical caries management agents to US pediatric dentistry residency program directors. Data were compared with results from a similar survey conducted in 2015 to analyze trends, report protocols, barriers for utilization, and possible reasons for changes., Results: Respondents from 82 programs completed the surveys (89% response rate). Although only 26% of respondents reported using SDF in 2015, 100% reported its utilization in 2020 (P < .001). The Hall-style crown technique is taught didactically in 90% of programs, and 69.5% of respondents use it at least sporadically in their clinics. Long wait times for the operating room (4 weeks-14 months) and sedation (1 week-12 months) motivate increased utilization of SDF, interim therapeutic restorations, and Hall-style crowns. Guidelines supporting off-label utilization of SDF have also resulted in its increased utilization., Conclusions: US pediatric residency programs have universally adopted SDF for caries arrest in the primary dentition, and this trend seems to extend to other nonsurgical caries management agents. These changes are likely driven by diverse barriers to delivery of traditional restorative care., Practical Implications: The rapid increases in teaching and utilization of minimal intervention techniques provide clinicians with more options for caries management in patients with barriers to traditional treatment., (Copyright © 2020 American Dental Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: The main goal of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of SDF and its individual components, silver (Ag + ) and fluoride (F - ) ions, in preventing enamel demineralization using biofilm and chemical models., Methodes: Polished human enamel specimens were assigned to five treatment groups (n = 18 per group): SDF (38 %); SDF followed by application of a saturated solution of potassium iodide (SDF + KI); silver nitrate (AgNO 3 ; silver control, 253,900 ppm Ag + ); potassium fluoride (KF; fluoride control, 44,800 ppm F); deionized water (DIW). Treatments were applied once to sound enamel. In the biofilm model, specimens were demineralized by aerobic overnight incubation using cariogenic bacteria isolated from human saliva in brain heart infusion supplemented with 0.2 % sucrose for three days. In the chemical model, enamel specimens were immersed in a demineralizing solution containing 0.1 M lactic acid, 4.1 mM CaCl 2 , 8.0 mM KH 2 PO 4 , 0.2 % Carbopol 907, pH adjusted to 5.0 for five days. Vickers surface microhardness was used to determine the extent of enamel demineralization. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA., Results: In the chemical model, there was no statistically significant difference between SDF and SDF + KI in preventing coronal caries (p < 0.0001). In the biofilm model, SDF + KI was significantly less effective in preventing demineralization than SDF (p < 0.0001). In both models, SDF and SDF + KI were superior in their ability to prevent caries lesion formation than AgNO 3 and DIW., Conclusion: KI application after SDF treatment appears to impair SDF's ability to prevent biofilm-mediated but not chemically induced demineralization., Clinical Significance: SDF may be a viable option in preventing primary coronal caries., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to assess success rates for nonvital treatment in primary teeth for caries/trauma. Methods: Databases were searched between 1960 and 2020 for randomized controlled trials, cohorts, case series, and in vitro studies. The primary outcome was overall success (clinical and radiographic) for pulpectomy and lesion sterilization tissue repair (LSTR). Included articles were independently determined, agreed upon, data extraction assessed, risk of bias, meta-analyses, and assignment of quality of evidence (GRADE). Results: Comparing teeth with and without root resorption, pulpectomy success was better (P<0.001) in teeth without preoperative root resorption. Success with pulpectomies performed with zinc oxide eugenol [ZOE] and with Endoflas (ZOE plus iodoform plus calcium hydroxide) did not differ from that observed using Vitapex or Metapex (iodoform plus calcium hydroxide; P ≥ 0.50) after 18 months; however, Endoflas and ZOE success rates remained near 90 percent versus 71 percent or less for iodoform. Network analysis ratings showed Endoflas and ZOE performed better than iodoform alone. Also, LSTR performed better (P<0.001) than pulpectomies in teeth with preoperative root resorption, but pulpectomy results were superior (P=0.09) if roots were intact. Rotary instrumentation of root canals was significantly faster (P<0.001) than manual instrumentation. Success rates were not impacted by method of obturation or root length determination, type of tooth, number of visits, irrigants, smear layer removal, or timing/type of final restoration. Conclusions: Eighteen-month success rates support Endloflas and zinc oxide eugenol pulpectomies over iodoform pulpectomies. Lesion sterilization tissue repair had limited indication for teeth with resorbed roots.

Background: Children's oral health-related quality of life (COHQoL) measures are well known and widely used. However, rigorous systematic reviews of these measures and analyses of their quality are in absence., Objectives: To systematically review and quantitatively assess the quality of COHQoL measures through a scoping review., Data Sources: Systematic literature search of PubMed, CINAHL (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature), EMBASE (Excerpta Medica database), HaPI (Health and Psychosocial Instruments), and DOSS (Dentistry and Oral Sciences Source)., Study Eligibility: The measure's focus was COHQoL; the child age ranged from 5 to 14 years; the publication was either a research article or a systematic review and related to caries; and it was written in English or had an English abstract. Two authors independently selected the studies. Disagreements were reconciled by group discussions with a third author., Appraisal: The International Society for Quality of Life Research minimum standards for patient-reported outcome measures were used for quality appraisal., Synthesis: Descriptive analysis., Results: We identified 18 measures. Their quality scores ranged from 9.5 to 15.0 on a scale of 16. The quality appeared to bear no relationship to the citation and use of these measures. However, elements of these measures might be more useful than others, depending on the age-specific use and primary quality concerns., Limitations: Some of the information on the minimum standards of the 18 measures cannot be found in the existing literature. Measures published without English abstract were not searched., Conclusions: The quality of these measures is suboptimal. Researchers and practitioners in this field should exercise caution when choosing and using these measures. Efforts at improving the quality of the COHQoL measures, such as refining existing ones or developing new measures, are warranted., Knowledge Transfer Statement: Researchers, clinician scientists, and clinicians can use the results of this study when deciding which oral health-related quality of life measure they wish to use in children.

Background: As silver diamine fluoride (SDF) gains popularity for caries arrest, the authors aimed to investigate the content of fluoride and silver in 38% SDF produced for the US market and its short-term stability., Methods: Five samples of 38% SDF were evaluated when the bottle was first opened, and at 7 and 28 days. Fluoride concentrations were determined with a fluoride ion-selective electrode, and silver concentrations were determined with a simultaneous inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer. pH was measured with a pH probe. Weight and volume of individual drops were measured., Results: At day 0, 40% of individual measured values were above the expected fluoride concentration, and at day 28, 93% were above the expected fluoride concentration (P = .005). At day 0, 19% of individual measured values were below the lowest expected silver concentration, and at day 28, 93% were below (P < .001). Acidity (pH 10) was consistent over the 3 periods. Mean (standard deviation) weight of a drop was 40 (4.0) milligrams, and mean (standard deviation) volume was 32.55 (1.89) microliters, 30% more than the reported value of 25 μL., Conclusion: Over 28 days, the product pH is stable, whereas the fluoride content tends to increase and the silver content tends to decrease. Drops were larger than expected when dispensed from the bottle., Practical Implications: Drops are larger than expected, so each delivers higher than expected quantities of silver and fluoride. Clinicians should exercise caution when using this product on young children, replace the cap immediately, and use as soon as dispensed., (Copyright © 2019 American Dental Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

This article reviews current evidence on the effectiveness of silver diamine fluoride (SDF) as a caries arresting and preventive agent. It provides clinical recommendations around SDF's appropriate use as part of a comprehensive caries management program. Systematic reviews confirm that SDF is effective for caries arrest on cavitated lesions in primary teeth and root caries in the elderly. It may also prevent new lesions. Application is easy, noninvasive, affordable, and safe. Although it stains the lesions dark as it arrests them, it provides clinicians with an additional tool for caries management when esthetics are not a primary concern., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Article Title and Bibliographic Information: Silver diamine fluoride has efficacy in controlling caries progression in primary teeth: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Chibinski AC, Wambier LM, Feltrin J, Dourado Loguercio A, Stadler Wambier D, Reis A. Caries Res 2017;51:527-41., Source of Funding: This study was partially supported by the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development of Brazil under grants 304105/2013-9 and 305588/2014-1 TYPE OF STUDY/DESIGN: Systematic review with meta-analysis., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: This manuscript presents evidence-based guidance on the use of vital pulp therapies for treatment of deep caries lesions in children. A guideline panel convened by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry formulated evidence-based recommendations on three vital pulp therapies: indirect pulp treatment (IPT; also known as indirect pulp cap), direct pulp cap (DPC), and pulpotomy., Methods: The basis of the guideline's recommendations was evidence from "Primary Tooth Vital Pulp Therapy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis." (Pediatr Dent 2017;15;39[1]:16-23.) A systematic search was conducted in PubMed®/MEDLINE, Embase®, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and trial databases to identify randomized controlled trials and systematic reviews addressing peripheral issues of vital pulp therapies such as patient preferences of treatment and impact of cost. Quality of the evidence was assessed through the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation approach; the evidence-to-decision framework was used to formulate a recommendation., Results: The panel was unable to make a recommendation on superiority of any particular type of vital pulp therapy owing to lack of studies directly comparing these interventions. The panel recommends use of mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) and formocresol in pulpotomy treatments; these are recommendations based on moderate-quality evidence at 24 months. The panel made weak recommendations regarding choice of medicament in both IPT (moderate-quality evidence [24 months], low quality evidence [48 months]) and DPC (very-low quality evidence [24 months]). Success of both treatments was independent of type of medicament used. The panel also recommends use of ferric sulfate (low-quality evidence), lasers (low-quality evidence), sodium hypochlorite (very low-quality evidence), and tricalcium silicate (very low-quality evidence) in pulpotomies; these are weak recommendations based on low-quality evidence. The panel recommended against the use of calcium hydroxide as pulpotomy medicament in primary teeth with deep caries lesions. Conclusions and practical implications: The guideline intends to inform the clinical practices with evidence-based recommendations on vital pulp therapies in primary teeth with deep caries lesions. These recommendations are based upon the best available evidence to-date.

Background: This manuscript presents evidence-based guidance on the use of 38 percent silver diamine fluoride (SDF) for dental caries management in children and adolescents, including those with special health care needs. A guideline workgroup formed by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry developed guidance and an evidence-based recommendation regarding the application of 38 percent SDF to arrest cavitated caries lesions in primary teeth., Types of Studies Reviewed: The basis of the guideline's recommendation is evidence from an existing systematic review "Clinical trials of silver diamine fluoride in arresting caries among children: A systematic review." (JDR Clin Transl Res 2016;1[3]:201-10). A systematic search was conducted in PubMed®/MEDLINE, Embase®, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and gray literature databases to identify randomized controlled trials and systematic reviews reporting on the effect of silver diamine fluoride and address peripheral issues such as adverse effects and cost. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach was used to assess the quality of the evidence and the evidence-to-decision framework was employed to formulate a recommendation., Results: The panel made a conditional recommendation regarding the use of 38 percent SDF for the arrest of cavitated caries lesions in primary teeth as part of a comprehensive caries management program. After taking into consideration the low cost of the treatment and the disease burden of caries, panel members were confident that the benefits of SDF application in the target populations outweigh its possible undesirable effects. Per GRADE, this is a conditional recommendation based on low-quality evidence. Conclusions and practical implications: The guideline intends to inform the clinical practices involving the application of 38 percent SDF to enhance dental caries management outcomes in children and adolescents, including those with special health care needs. These recommended practices are based upon the best available evidence to-date. A 38 percent SDF protocol is included in Appendix II.

Background: The caries arrest that can be achieved by using silver diamine fluoride (SDF) offers a minimally invasive and inexpensive alternative to traditional restorative caries treatment. The authors evaluated how the dentinal staining that is associated with SDF influences the acceptance of this treatment among parents of young children in the New York City metropolitan area., Methods: The authors invited the parents of children who had experienced dental caries and who had appointments at the New York University Pediatric Dentistry Clinic and at several private clinics in New Jersey to participate in a Web-based survey designed to assess parents' demographics, perceptions of photographs of SDF-treated carious teeth, and acceptability of treatment in different behavior management scenarios., Results: Ninety-eight mothers and 22 fathers from diverse backgrounds participated. Most parents (67.5%) judged SDF staining on the posterior teeth to be esthetically tolerable, but only 29.7% of parents made this same judgment about anterior teeth (P < .001). In the absence of their child having behavioral barriers to conventional restorations, 53.6% of parents reported that they were likely to choose SDF to treat their child's posterior teeth, but only 26.9% of parents were likely to choose SDF to treat their child's anterior teeth. As the number of children's behavioral barriers increased, so did the parents' level of acceptance. In extreme cases, in which parents had to decide whether their children should undergo general anesthesia during treatment, parents' acceptance rate of SDF as a treatment method increased to 68.5% on posterior teeth and to 60.3% on anterior teeth. Parents' acceptance of the treatment also varied according to their socioeconomic status., Conclusions: Staining on posterior teeth was more acceptable than staining on anterior teeth. Although staining on anterior teeth was undesirable, most parents preferred this option to advanced behavioral techniques such as sedation or general anesthesia., Practical Implications: Clinicians need to understand parental sensitivities regarding the staining effect of SDF to plan adequately for the use of SDF as a method of caries management in pediatric patients., (Copyright © 2017 American Dental Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

By arresting and preventing caries, silver diamine fluoride (SDF) offers an alternate care path for patients for whom traditional restorative treatment is not immediately available. Current data from controlled clinical trials encompassing more than 3,900 children indicate that biannual application of SDF reduces progression of current caries and risk of subsequent caries. The purpose of this paper was to highlight the best evidence from systematic reviews and clinical trials for clinicians to consider the benefits, risks, and limitations as they implement silver diamine fluoride therapy on young children.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate practice, teaching, and perceived barriers to the use of silver diamine fluoride and other caries control agents in U.S. pediatric dentistry residency programs., Methods: A 14-question survey regarding use and teaching of caries control agents was sent via email to residency program directors in 2015. Survey participants responded, using a web-based survey tool, by completing a paper and pencil survey instrument, or by interview., Results: Surveys were completed by 74 directors or associate directors (87 percent adjusted response rate). More than a quarter (25.7 percent) reported use of silver diamine fluoride, with 68.9 percent expecting to increase use. The use of silver diamine fluoride was not associated with region or program type. Programs reported commonly used caries control agents of fluoride varnish (100 percent), acidulated phosphate fluoride foam (48.6 percent), silver nitrate (9.5 percent), and povidone iodine (1.3 percent). Most felt silver diamine fluoride should be used only with high-risk patients (89.2 percent), and the majority agreed it could be used in primary and permanent teeth. The most frequently reported barrier to use of silver diamine fluoride was parental acceptance (91.8 percent)., Conclusions: Silver diamine fluoride is being rapidly adopted in graduate pediatric dentistry training programs, with the majority expecting to incorporate it into their teaching clinics and curricula.

Recent increases in caries prevalence in young children throughout the world highlight the need for a simple but effective infant oral care programme. This programme needs to include a medical disease prevention management model with an early establishment of a dental home and a treatment approach based on individual patient risk. This article presents an updated approach with practical forms and tools based on the principles of caries management by risk assessment, CAMBRA. This method will aid the general practitioner to develop and maintain a comprehensive protocol adequate for infant and young children oral care visits. Perinatal oral health is vitally important in preventing early childhood caries (ECC) in young children. Providing dental treatment to expectant mothers and their young children in a 'dual parallel track' is an effective innovative strategy and an efficient practice builder. It promotes prevention rather than intervention, and this may be the best way to achieve long-lasting oral health for young patients. General dental practice can adopt easy protocols that will promote early preventive visits and anticipatory guidance/counselling rather than waiting for the need for restorative treatment.

The recent increase in the prevalence of dental caries among young children has highlighted the need for a new approach to prevent caries in children at a younger age. New disease prevention management models call for children to have their first visit to the dentist at age 1 or when their first tooth erupts. This article addresses early childhood caries risk assessment, prevention, and management strategies in young children using the concept of the "dental home" and a simple six-step protocol to conduct an effective and comprehensive infant oral care visit.

Recent increases in caries prevalence in young children, especially among minorities and the economically disadvantaged, highlight the need for early establishment of dental homes and simple, effective infant oral care preventive programs for all children as part of a medical disease prevention management model. This article presents an updated approach and practical tools for pediatric dental caries management by risk assessment in an effort to stimulate greater adoption of infant oral care programs among clinicians and early establishment of dental homes for young children. [corrected]