Silver diamine fluoride additional tool for addressing dentine hypersensitivity and improving QoL of patients, states study

A study was done to assess the clinical evidence for silver diamine fluoride (SDF) to reduce dentine hypersensitivity in adults. Two independent researchers searched the English literature in five databases (Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE and the Cochrane Library) up to 15th July 2023 for clinical trials investigating the desensitising effect of professionally applied SDF to manage dentine hypersensitivity in adults aged 18 or above at any follow-up period. The primary outcome was the change in dentine hypersensitivity between baseline and follow-up visits after SDF application regarding any validated pain outcome measures. The Cochrane guidelines were used for the risk of bias assessment.

Results: Three hundred and thirty-one studies were identified, and four of them were finally included. Three of the included studies were rated as having a ‘low risk’ of bias. The SDF solution reduced dentine hypersensitivity in adults. The percentage reduction in dentine hypersensitivity ranged from 23 % to 56 % after a single application of SDF solution. Moreover, the SDF solution was more effective than potassium nitrate, potassium oxalate and glutaraldehyde plus hydroxyethyl methacrylate in reducing dentine hypersensitivity. Meta-analysis indicated a more significant reduction in visual analogue scales (1–10) by 1.35 (95 % CI:0.9–1.8; p<0.00001) after receiving the SDF application than controls. The included clinical trials showed that SDF solution reduced dentine hypersensitivity in adults. However, clinical trials are few, and their protocol varied from one another. Further well-designed clinical trials should be conducted to provide more evidence on its use to manage dentine hypersensitivity. SDF is cleared as desensitizing agents by the US Food and Drug Administration to manage dentine hypersensitivity, which induces pain, limits food choice, and impacts the quality of life. Evidence from this systematic review informs clinicians and provides researchers insight for future research on SDF use for dentine hypersensitivity.

Reference:

Alice Kit Ying Chan, Yiu Cheung Tsang, Ollie Yiru Yu, Edward Chin Man Lo, Katherine Chiu Man Leung, Chun Hung Chu. Clinical evidence for silver diamine fluoride to reduce dentine hypersensitivity: A systematic review. Journal of Dentistry, Volume 142, 2024, 104868. ISSN 0300-5712, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jdent.2024.104868. (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0300571224000381)

Keywords:

Silver diamine fluoride, additional tool, dentine hypersensitivity, QoL of patients, Journal of Dentistry, Silver diamine fluoride; Dentine hypersensitivity; Oral health; Caries; Older adult, Alice Kit Ying Chan, Yiu Cheung Tsang, Ollie Yiru Yu, Edward Chin Man Lo, Katherine Chiu Man Leung, Chun Hung Chu