Dental Caries in Permanent Molars of Children Previously Treated With Silver Fluoride Gel/Sodium Fluoride Varnish in Their Primary Dentition: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Tania Carola Padilla Cáceres, Jorge Luis Castillo, Claudia Mariela Vera Reyes, Marilynn Rothen, Lloyd L. Mancl, Peter MilgromABSTRACT
Introduction
Children with more caries in the primary dentition have been observed to have greater caries risk in the permanent dentition. In a previous trial, we determined lesion arrest in primary teeth, where 38% SDF gel and 2.5% NaF varnish were applied sequentially. This follow‐up study determined the prevalence of children with any caries in untreated first permanent molars.
Materials and Methods
The design was a retrospective cohort. Participants were drawn from five Centros Educativos Iniciales, Puno, Peru. Examinations were conducted 19 months after the second treatment. Any caries prevalence (D 2–4 MFS > 0) and D 2–4 MFS were compared between groups.
Results
The exposed group was 219 children in the initial trial; the unexposed group was in the same classes but did not participate. 181/237 (76.4%) children treated at baseline were followed up; 104 unexposed children were examined. Prevalence of any caries in first permanent molars was lower in exposed children (4.4%, 95% CI 1.4, 10) compared to unexposed (66.6%, 95% CI 53.6, 77.2; p < 0.001). D 2–4 MFS in first permanent molars was lower in the exposed (median [IQR] = 0 [0, 0]) vs. unexposed (median [IQR] = 1 [0, 3]; p < 0.001).
Discussion
Children who received two sequential applications of SDF gel/NaF varnish at 3–4y were observed to have fewer caries in first permanent molars at 6–7 y than unexposed children.