Can SDF reduce the impact on young children of waiting for dental care
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Can silver diamine fluoride reduce negative impacts for young children with dental caries awaiting treatment under general anaesthesia: a feasibility study
IRAS ID
351045
Contact name
Laura Timms
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Sheffield Teaching Hospitals
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 7 months, 27 days
Research summary
Dental extractions under general anaesthesia (DGA) is the most common reason for NHS hospital admission for children aged 6-10-years. NHS DGA lists have unprecedented waiting times. While children await NHS DGA, data suggest that a high proportion experience pain (76%), infection and antibiotic prescription (49%), missed school time (26%) and sleepless nights (29%-38%).
Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) is an evidence-based options that stops decay progressing in children's primary teeth. Children on DGA waiting lists usually require multiple extractions of decayed primary teeth and are unable to cope with treatment in clinic. SDF may halt decay progression while they await DGA, reducing the number of children suffering from pain/infection.
A full randomised controlled trial would be required to assess this, but before progressing to this it is important to establish whether running this trial would be feasible. This is due to uncertainties regarding the ability to recruit and retain children and their parents, how many children who are waiting for DGA would accept SDF treatment, and how best to measure the outcomes of the study.
To address these uncertainties, a sample size of 30 children and their parents will be recruited across 3 settings: Paediatric hospital/community dental clinics in Sheffield, Bradford and Cardiff. Those included will be children aged 1-8 years, who are on a DGA waiting list for dental extractions for carious primary teeth, and their parents.
Children will have SDF applied to decayed primary teeth when on a GA waiting list. Data will be collected to determine the; proportion of children who accept SDF and the numbers approached, declined, accepted, recruited and retained up to DGA. Questionnaires will be completed based on experiences of the treatment, pain and infection and the child's oral health related quality of life. Interviews will be carried out with parents and children about their experiences.
REC name
West Midlands - South Birmingham Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
25/WM/0014
Date of REC Opinion
3 Mar 2025
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion