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Dental CariesSDFNCT02591147

Silver Diamine Fluoride Pilot Study (SDF)

A study testing Silver Diamine Fluoride 38% in people with Dental Caries, run by Justine Kolker at 1 site in United States.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

This pilot trial is randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled trial with two parallel arms: an intervention group using silver diamine fluoride (SDF) and a placebo group (control). 60 eligible healthy adults will be enrolled in the study and randomly assigned to one of the two treatment groups. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 21 to 64 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
Conditions the study is for
Dental Caries
What is being tested?
Silver Diamine Fluoride 38%
Type of treatment
Medical device
Could I receive a placebo?
Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
How many people
41 participants
Where
1 siteUnited States
Study dates
7 Jan 2016to 30 Jun 2022
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
Yes, posted in the registrySummary in the doctors' view

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 21 to 64 years
  • All sexes
  • Healthy volunteers accepted
  • Adult

Who may be able to join

  • Presence of at least one approximal caries lesion (scores RA1, RA2, RA3 according to the ICCMS radiographic scoring system) in one of the posterior teeth (premolars and molars) presented with full contact with the adjacent tooth.
  • All the surfaces eligible for this study will be included.

Who cannot join

  • The approximal lesion detected in the radiograph has advanced dentine lesion (RB4, RC5, or RC6)
  • or is adjacent to a lesion that is either filled or will receive a filling at the time of enrollment.

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

United States1 site
  • University of Iowa

    Iowa City, Iowa, 52242

Other trials in United States

About this study

Official title: Effectiveness of Silver Diamine Fluoride in Arresting Early Approximal Carious Lesion Progression: A Pilot Study

This pilot trial is randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled trial with two parallel arms: an intervention group using silver diamine fluoride (SDF) and a placebo group (control). 60 eligible healthy adults will be enrolled in the study and randomly assigned to one of the two treatment groups. Both groups will receive the traditional preventive measures including cleanings, Fluoride varnish, diet analysis and counseling. Study participants will be followed for one year and caries progression will be radiographically monitored.

Read the detailed description

This pilot study will compare 1) Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) and fluoride varnish to 2) Placebo and fluoride varnish (conventional prevention) in the management of early approximal carious lesions. Early approximal carious lesions refers to decay between teeth, diagnosed with radiographs, not extending more than 1/3 of the way into dentin. Management of early approximal carious lesions refers to halting lesion progression, or encouraging lesion reversal after an early carious lesion is detected.

SDF provides a novel, low-cost intervention option for managing early carious lesions that could potentially bridge the 'gap' between non-operative and operative options; thus, postponing the first placement of a restoration. SDF has been used in arresting carious lesions for more than 100 years. However, SDF has never been tested in the arrest of approximal caries lesions in permanent teeth.

SDF acts to both prevent and arrest tooth decay in multiple ways: 1) it acts on the body of carious lesions by precipitating silver ion into the lesion, thus blocking diffusion pathways for cariogenic acids; 2) it interacts with dental enamel leading to the formation of fluoroapatite crystals making the tooth surface more acid resistant; and 3) the precipitated silver from SDF acts as a bactericidal agent disturbing the formation of cariogenic biofilm.

Conditions
Dental Caries
Being tested
Silver Diamine Fluoride 38%, Group 2 (Placebo)
Medical subject headings
Dental Caries

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Silver Diamine Fluoride 38%Device

    Also called 38% SDF

    Group 1 (SDF group) subjects will receive the application of silver diamine fluoride (38% SDF solution) in addition to 5% Fluoride varnish to each approximal incipiency, using super floss, for a duration of 3 minutes under rubber dam isolation.

  • Group 2 (Placebo)Device

    Also called Sterile Water

    Group 2 (Placebo) subjects will receive application of sterile water (placebo) in addition to 5% Fluoride varnish to each approximal incipiency, using super floss, for a duration of 3 minutes under rubber dam isolation.

Study groups in NCT02591147
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Silver Diamine Fluoride 38%Active comparatorGroup 1 (SDF 38%) will receive the application of silver diammine fluoride (38% SDF solution) in addition to 5% sodium fluoride varnish to each approximal carious lesion (scores RA1,RA2,RA3) in a posterior tooth (premolar or molar) that is in contact with an adjacent tooth, using super floss, for a duration of 3 minutes under rubber dam isolation.
Receives: Device: Silver Diamine Fluoride 38%
Placebo (Sterile water)Placebo comparatorGroup 2 Placebo (control) will receive the application of sterile water (placebo) in addition to 5% sodium fluoride varnish to each approximal carious lesion (scores RA1,RA2,RA3) in a posterior tooth (premolar or molar) that is in contact with an adjacent tooth, using super floss, for a duration of 3 minutes under rubber dam isolation.
Receives: Device: Group 2 (Placebo)

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Assessment of Radiographic Change in Dental Cavity

    Determine if there is a change in the size of the dental cavity from baseline to 12 months after blinded treatment with either Silver Diamine Fluoride 38% or placebo (sterile water). This measurement will be assessed using radiographic examination to determine if there is either evidence of no radiographic change, radiographic progression, or radiographic regression.

    Measured: Baseline, 12 months after blinded treatment with either Silver Diamine Fluoride 38% or placebo (sterile water)

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted29 Oct 2015 (estimated)
  2. Study start7 Jan 2016
  3. Primary completion1 Aug 2021
  4. Study completion30 Jun 2022

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Health services research
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
Double blind
Who is masked
Participant, Investigator
Enrolment
41 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT02591147
Sponsor's protocol ID
201509831
Acronym
SDF
Status last verified
Feb 2023
First submitted
28 Oct 2015
Last updated
14 Mar 2023
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated device
Yes
Individual data sharing
No

Publications

  • Rosenblatt A, Stamford TC, Niederman R. Silver diamine fluoride: a caries "silver-fluoride bullet". J Dent Res. 2009 Feb;88(2):116-25. doi: 10.1177/0022034508329406.

    PubMed 19278981
  • Santos VE Jr, Vasconcelos Filho A, Targino AG, Flores MA, Galembeck A, Caldas AF Jr, Rosenblatt A. A new "silver-bullet" to treat caries in children--nano silver fluoride: a randomised clinical trial. J Dent. 2014 Aug;42(8):945-51. doi: 10.1016/j.jdent.2014.05.017. Epub 2014 Jun 12.

    PubMed 24930870
  • Peng JJ, Botelho MG, Matinlinna JP. Silver compounds used in dentistry for caries management: a review. J Dent. 2012 Jul;40(7):531-41. doi: 10.1016/j.jdent.2012.03.009. Epub 2012 Apr 3.

    PubMed 22484380
  • Mattos-Silveira J, Floriano I, Ferreira FR, Vigano ME, Frizzo MA, Reyes A, Novaes TF, Moriyama CM, Raggio DP, Imparato JC, Mendes FM, Braga MM. New proposal of silver diamine fluoride use in arresting approximal caries: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Trials. 2014 Nov 19;15:448. doi: 10.1186/1745-6215-15-448.

    PubMed 25409545
  • Tellez M, Gomez J, Kaur S, Pretty IA, Ellwood R, Ismail AI. Non-surgical management methods of noncavitated carious lesions. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol. 2013 Feb;41(1):79-96. doi: 10.1111/cdoe.12028.

    PubMed 23253076
  • Llodra JC, Rodriguez A, Ferrer B, Menardia V, Ramos T, Morato M. Efficacy of silver diamine fluoride for caries reduction in primary teeth and first permanent molars of schoolchildren: 36-month clinical trial. J Dent Res. 2005 Aug;84(8):721-4. doi: 10.1177/154405910508400807.

    PubMed 16040729
  • Ekstrand KR, Bruun G, Bruun M. Plaque and gingival status as indicators for caries progression on approximal surfaces. Caries Res. 1998;32(1):41-5. doi: 10.1159/000016428.

    PubMed 9438570

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Silver Diamine Fluoride 38% in people with Dental Caries, run by Justine Kolker at 1 site in United States.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 2 inclusion and 2 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 14 Mar 2023. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

Yes. Results are posted in the registry (first posted 14 Mar 2023). A summary is in the For doctors view, and the full results are on ClinicalTrials.gov.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Assessment of Radiographic Change in Dental Cavity (time frame: Baseline, 12 months after blinded treatment with either Silver Diamine Fluoride 38% or placebo (sterile water)). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT02591147, which also lists 7 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 14 Mar 2023; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 29 Oct 2026.

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