Faculty Bibliography

BACKGROUND/UNASSIGNED: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/UNASSIGNED:To systematically review and quantitatively assess the quality of COHQoL measures through a scoping review. DATA SOURCES/UNASSIGNED: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/UNASSIGNED: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/UNASSIGNED:The International Society for Quality of Life Research minimum standards for patient-reported outcome measures were used for quality appraisal. SYNTHESIS/UNASSIGNED:Descriptive analysis. RESULTS/UNASSIGNED: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/UNASSIGNED: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/UNASSIGNED: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/UNASSIGNED: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/CONCLUSIONS: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/CONCLUSIONS: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.

Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) combines the antibacterial properties of silver and the remineralizing actions of fluoride in an alkaline solution that creates an unfavourable environment for collagen degradation. Clinical trials have proven the efficacy of SDF as a caries-arresting agent in primary teeth and root caries in the elderly. It is minimally invasive, inexpensive, safe and easy to apply, but a sign of arrest is the dark discoloration of the lesions where it is applied. SDF provides clinicians with a valuable additional tool in their armamentarium for caries management that aims to stop the disease process at the tooth surface, when traditional restorative therapy is not the best option, and when aesthetic results are not a concern.

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.

Background: The staining associated with its caries arrest may be a deterrent for the use of Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF). This study aims to elucidate the concerns that inform parents' perceptions and acceptance of SDF as a treatment option for their child. Study Design: We analyzed qualitative data obtained through an investigation in which parents attending a pediatric dental appointment participated in a survey, which included an open-ended question to evaluate their opinions about SDF staining. Thematic analysis of the comments, offered by the subsample of participants who replied to this question (n=43), yielded insights about perception of SDF therapy. Results: Most parents who provided comments were mothers (83.7%), college graduates (72.1%), primarily white (48.8%) or Hispanic (27.9%). Six themes emerged from the thematic analysis of the parents' responses: Esthetic Concerns, Psychosocial Concerns, SDF Treatment Process, Risks and Side Effects, Situational Benefits, and Dental Treatment Process. While many of the parents' comments are related to appearance, other topics that merit consideration when discussing SDF treatment were mentioned. Conclusions: Although parents are concerned about the esthetic impact of SDF, they understand the risks of alternative treatments and welcome information that will allow them to make an informed decision. Location of the cavities and visibility of the staining appear to heavily influence the decision to accept or reject this therapy.

ARTICLE TITLE AND BIBLIOGRAPHIC INFORMATION/BACKGROUND: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/BACKGROUND: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.

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(R)/MEDLINE, Embase(R), 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.

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(R)/MEDLINE, Embase(R), 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: 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.

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.