Dental caries remain one of the most common chronic childhood diseases, particularly among underserved communities with limited dental care access. In the recent CariedAway trial, over 7,000 children were randomized to receive either silver diamine fluoride (SDF) or atraumatic restorative treatment (ART) as part of a school-based program. Surface-level failure was slightly lower with SDF (38.3%) than ART (45.5%). Over four years, SDF successfully controlled 62% of carious surfaces while ART controlled 55%, showing comparable long-term results. These simple, topical interventions offer a promising alternative to invasive procedures in reducing oral health disparities among vulnerable populations where access to routine dental care is limited.

References

Ruff RR, et al. JAMA Netw Open. 2025 Jun 2;8(6):e2513826.