Preventing early childhood caries with silver diamine fluoride: study protocol for a randomised clinical trial

Background Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) solution is effective in arresting early childhood caries (ECC). Previous studies have suggested that it might exert a preventive effect in managing ECC. However, no well-designed clinical trials have yet been performed to study the effect of SDF on caries prevention. The objective of this randomised clinical trial is to determine whether 38% SDF solution is superior to 5% sodium fluoride (NaF) varnish in preventing new carious lesions in primary anterior teeth. Methods/design This is a phase II, single-centre, randomised, double-blind, active-controlled, parallel-group pragmatic trial. The hypothesis tested is that 38% SDF would be more effective than 5% NaF in preventing new caries development in primary anterior teeth. Approximately 730 3-year-old children who are generally healthy and with parental consent will be recruited from Hong Kong kindergartens. This sample size will be sufficient for appropriate statistical analysis of a superiority trial with 90% power, allowing for a 20% drop-out rate. Stratified randomisation will be adopted for allocating the intervention. The intervention will either be 38% SDF or 5% NaF (as a positive control) therapy on primary upper anterior teeth. A single trained examiner will conduct a dental examination every 6 months until 30 months in kindergarten. Another operator will provide fluoride therapy immediately after each dental examination. The examiner, children and children's parents will be blinded to the treatment allocation. A questionnaire survey will be conducted to study the children's oral health-related behaviours and socioeconomic backgrounds. Chi-square tests, t tests, regression analyses and survival analyses will be adopted for data analysis. Discussion The effectiveness of 38% SDF in preventing ECC remains uncertain. If the results are as anticipated, care standards using 5% NaF for ECC prevention will be changed. In addition, the results will be widely available and increase the adoption of SDF in other countries to reduce the global burden of ECC.