Clinical Update quiz
The Clinical Update online is a free member service providing up to 11 FREE CPD hours per year.
Each month, the Clinical Update is published online. There are 11 Clinical Updates per year. This service is available to ADAVB and ADATas members only. Members can log in to view and answer the Clinical Update questions. If you answer at least eight out of 10 questions correctly, you will receive one hour of scientific CPD.
Please note: Each new Clinical Update will be available below from the first business day of each month.
March Clinical Update
Silver Diamine Fluoride Protocol for Reducing Preventable Dental Hospitalisations in Victorian Children.
Yawary R, Hegde S. Silver Diamine Fluoride Protocol for Reducing Preventable Dental Hospitalisations in Victorian Children. Int Dent J. 2022 Jun;72(3):322-330. Compiled by Dr Nirav Bhatia.
Introduction
Australia’s most comprehensive National Child Oral Health Study showed that more than 40% of children aged 5 to 10 years experienced caries in their primary teeth. Around 20% of 5- to 10-year-old and 17% of 11- to 14-year-old children in Australia experience more than 80% of the total population burden of dental caries in the primary and permanent dentition. Dental caries is currently the highest cause of potentially preventable hospital admissions in Victoria for children in the 0-to-19-year age bracket. Many of these children require dental treatment under general anaesthesia (DGA).
There is a need to provide alternatives to DGA for children and shift the focus away from surgical management of dental caries towards the provision of preventative services. Silver diamine fluoride (SDF), a topical cavity cleanser and desensitiser, has been considered as an effective and viable non-invasive alternative for managing dental caries in high-risk children. The hallmark of SDF is the visible dark black staining that indicates caries arrest on treated dentine lesions. This is thought to affect parental acceptance of SDF. Staining can be reduced by topical application of potassium iodide (KI).
This is the first study that aimed to assess whether the adoption of a preventive protocol for caries management that incorporated the application of 38% SDF, oral health education including twice-daily toothbrushing with fluoride toothpaste, and diet modification would divert high-risk children from undergoing DGA in Victorian children aged between 2 and 10 years.
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