Preventing Early Childhood Caries With Silver Diamine Fluoride

NCT ID: NCT04075474

Last Updated: 2022-12-09

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

UNKNOWN

Clinical Phase

PHASE2

Total Enrollment

730 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2020-10-27

Study Completion Date

2023-06-30

Brief Summary

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Background: Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) solution is effective in arresting early childhood caries (ECC). Previous studies suggested that it might exert a preventive effect in managing ECC. However, no well-designed clinical trial has been performed to study this topic. The aim of this randomised clinical trial is to assess whether 38% SDF 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 randomized, double-blind, active-controlled, parallel-group pragmatic trial. The hypothesis tested is that 38% SDF is more effective than 5% NaF in preventing new caries development in primary anterior teeth. Approximately 2,100 three-year-old kindergarten children who are generally healthy and with parental consent will be recruited. This sample size is sufficient for an appropriate statistical analysis of superiority trial with power at 80%, allowing for a 15% drop-out rate. Stratified randomization will be adopted for the intervention allocation. The intervention is either 38% SDF or 5% NaF (as positive control) therapy on primary upper anterior teeth. Dental examination followed by fluoride therapy will be conducted every six months until 30 months in kindergartens by a single examiner. The examiner, children and children's parents will be blinded to the treatment allocation. Questionnaire survey will be conducted to study the children's oral health-related behaviours and their socioeconomic backgrounds.

Discussion: The effectiveness of 38% SDF in preventing ECC remains uncertain. If the results are as anticipated, it will help change the standard of care that using 5% NaF for ECC prevention. In addition, the results will be widely available and increase adoption of SDF in other countries to reduce the global burden of ECC.

Detailed Description

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Conditions

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Dental Caries

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

PREVENTION

Blinding Strategy

TRIPLE

Participants Caregivers Outcome Assessors

Study Groups

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silver diamine fluoride

38% silver diamine fluoride

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

silver diamine fluoride

Intervention Type DEVICE

38% SDF on primary upper anterior teeth

sodium fluoride

5% sodium fluoride

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

sodium fluoride

Intervention Type DEVICE

5% NaF on primary upper anterior teeth

Interventions

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silver diamine fluoride

38% SDF on primary upper anterior teeth

Intervention Type DEVICE

sodium fluoride

5% NaF on primary upper anterior teeth

Intervention Type DEVICE

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* generally healthy, with parental consents

Exclusion Criteria

* uncooperative and difficult to manage, have major systemic diseases such as porphyria, or are on long-term medication such as anti-epileptic drugs.
Minimum Eligible Age

3 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

4 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

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The University of Hong Kong

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Chun-Hung Chu

Clinical Professor

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Locations

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Local kindergartens

Hong Kong, , Hong Kong

Site Status RECRUITING

Countries

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Hong Kong

Central Contacts

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Chun Hung Chu, PhD

Role: CONTACT

Phone: (+852)28590287

Email: [email protected]

References

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Zheng FM, Yan IG, Duangthip D, Lo ECM, Gao SS, Chu CH. Randomized Clinical Trial on Caries Prevention of Silver Diamine Fluoride. J Dent Res. 2025 Sep 9:220345251363837. doi: 10.1177/00220345251363837. Online ahead of print.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 40926346 (View on PubMed)

Gao SS, Chen KJ, Duangthip D, Wong MCM, Lo ECM, Chu CH. Preventing early childhood caries with silver diamine fluoride: study protocol for a randomised clinical trial. Trials. 2020 Feb 4;21(1):140. doi: 10.1186/s13063-020-4088-7.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 32019596 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

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UW18-619

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id