Comparative Effectiveness of School-based Caries Prevention

NCT ID: NCT03442309

Last Updated: 2025-02-26

Study Results

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Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

7418 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2019-02-01

Study Completion Date

2023-06-30

Brief Summary

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Dental caries (tooth decay) is the most prevalent childhood disease in the world. Multiple interventions are available to treat and prevent caries. The aim of the proposed study is to compare the benefit of silver diamine fluoride (SDF) and fluoride varnish versus fluoride varnish and glass ionomer sealants. This study is a five-year, cluster randomized, pragmatic controlled trial conducted in public elementary schools in New York City.

Detailed Description

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Dental caries is the most prevalent childhood disease in the world and can lead to infection, pain, reduced quality of life, and negative educational outcomes. Multiple prevention agents are available to arrest and prevent dental caries, however little is known of the comparative effectiveness of combined treatments in pragmatic settings. The aim of the presented study is to compare the benefit of silver diamine fluoride and fluoride varnish versus fluoride varnish and glass ionomer therapeutic sealants in the arrest and prevention of dental caries.

This is a longitudinal, pragmatic, cluster randomized, single-blind, non-inferiority trial to be conducted in low-income minority children enrolled in public elementary schools in New York City, New York, United States, from 2018-2023. The primary objective is to assess the non-inferiority of alternative agents in the arrest and prevention of dental caries. Secondary objectives are to assess oral health-related quality of life and educational outcomes. Caries arrest will be evaluated after two years, and caries prevention and secondary outcomes will be assessed at the completion of the study. Data analysis will follow intent to treat, and statistical analyses will be conducted using a two-sided significance level of 0.05.

Notably, the standard of care for dental caries is office-based surgery, which presents multiple barriers to care including cost, fear, and geographic isolation. The simplicity and affordability of silver diamine fluoride may be a viable alternative for the arrest and prevention of dental caries in high-risk children.

Conditions

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Dental Caries Quality of Life

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Two-arm, parallel, non-inferiority cluster randomized trial
Primary Study Purpose

PREVENTION

Blinding Strategy

SINGLE

Outcome Assessors
The investigators responsible for analyzing the data for primary outcomes will be masked.

Study Groups

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Simple Prevention

One drop (0.05 ml) of silver diamine fluoride (Advantage ArrestTM) solution at 38% concentration (2.24 F-ion mg/dose) will be dispensed per child. Posterior tooth surfaces to be treated will be dried, after which the SDF will be applied with a micro-brush to all asymptomatic carious lesions and to all pits and fissures on bicuspids and molar teeth for thirty seconds. Fluoride varnishes (5% NaF) will then be applied to all teeth.

Dosage frequency will be twice-yearly.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Silver Diamine Fluoride

Intervention Type DEVICE

Silver diamine fluoride (SDF)

Fluoride Varnishes

Intervention Type DEVICE

Fluoride varnish (FV)

Complex prevention

Pits and fissures on all bicuspids and molar teeth will be sealed with glass ionomer sealants (GC Fuji IX). Glass ionomer sealants (interim therapeutic restorations) will also be placed on all frank asymptomatic carious lesions. Fluoride varnishes (5% NaF) will then be applied to all teeth.

Dosage frequency will be twice-yearly.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Fluoride Varnishes

Intervention Type DEVICE

Fluoride varnish (FV)

Glass Ionomer

Intervention Type DEVICE

Glass Ionomer Sealants (GC Fuji IX)

Interventions

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Silver Diamine Fluoride

Silver diamine fluoride (SDF)

Intervention Type DEVICE

Fluoride Varnishes

Fluoride varnish (FV)

Intervention Type DEVICE

Glass Ionomer

Glass Ionomer Sealants (GC Fuji IX)

Intervention Type DEVICE

Other Intervention Names

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Advantage Arrest

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Any primary school in New York City with a Hispanic/Latino student population greater than 50% and,
* A low-income population (defined as a student receiving free or reduced price lunch) of at least 80%.
* Within participating schools, all children are eligible to participate in the study.

Exclusion Criteria

* Schools that already have a pre-existing school-based dental health program.
Minimum Eligible Age

5 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

12 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

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Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Boston University

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene

OTHER_GOV

Sponsor Role collaborator

NYU College of Dentistry

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Richard Niederman

Professor

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Richard Niederman, DMD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

NYU Langone Health

Ryan R Ruff, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

NYU Langone Health

Locations

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New York University College of Dentistry

New York, New York, United States

Site Status

Countries

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United States

References

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Ruff RR, Gawande AA, Xu Q, Barry Godin T. Silver Diamine Fluoride vs Atraumatic Restoration for Managing Dental Caries in Schools: A Cluster Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Netw Open. 2025 Jun 2;8(6):e2513826. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.13826.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 40489112 (View on PubMed)

Ruff RR, Barry Godin TJ, Niederman R. Noninferiority of Silver Diamine Fluoride vs Sealants for Reducing Dental Caries Prevalence and Incidence: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Pediatr. 2024 Apr 1;178(4):354-361. doi: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2023.6770.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 38436947 (View on PubMed)

Ruff RR, Habib R, Godin TB, Niederman R. School-based caries prevention and the impact on acute and chronic student absenteeism. J Am Dent Assoc. 2023 Aug;154(8):753-759. doi: 10.1016/j.adaj.2023.05.007.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 37500236 (View on PubMed)

Ruff RR, Barry-Godin T, Niederman R. Effect of Silver Diamine Fluoride on Caries Arrest and Prevention: The CariedAway School-Based Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Netw Open. 2023 Feb 1;6(2):e2255458. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.55458.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 36757696 (View on PubMed)

Ruff RR, Niederman R. Silver diamine fluoride versus therapeutic sealants for the arrest and prevention of dental caries in low-income minority children: study protocol for a cluster randomized controlled trial. Trials. 2018 Sep 26;19(1):523. doi: 10.1186/s13063-018-2891-1.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 30257696 (View on PubMed)

Provided Documents

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Document Type: Study Protocol and Statistical Analysis Plan

View Document

Document Type: Informed Consent Form: Recruitment and Informed Consent

View Document

Other Identifiers

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i17-00578

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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