Effectiveness, acceptability and oral health-related quality of life of silver diamine fluoride compared with atraumatic restorative treatment for the management of early childhood caries: protocol of a pragmatic randomised clinical trial.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Early childhood caries (ECC) continues to be a public health problem. The application of silver diamine fluoride (SDF) is a simple, non-invasive procedure. This study aims to evaluate SDF's effectiveness, acceptability and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) compared with atraumatic restorative treatment in managing ECC.

Methods and analysis

An open-label parallel superiority randomised clinical trial will be conducted involving children aged 2-5 years. Participants will include children with at least one active cavitated lesion (ICDAS 5+) of their primary teeth, with no signs of pulp involvement. The trial will occur at preschools in the La Araucanía and Metropolitan Regions of Chile from 2025 to 2027. The primary outcome variable will be the caries le

SUBMITTER: Munoz Millan P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12911753 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature