Posted on 02/13/2023 9:03:28 AM PST by ConservativeMind
In a study of nearly 3,000 schoolchildren, silver diamine fluoride—a liquid that is brushed onto the surface of teeth to prevent cavities or keep them from worsening—was as effective against cavities as dental sealants, the standard of care. A single dose of either topical treatment given in elementary schools prevented roughly 80% of cavities and kept 50% of cavities from worsening when children were seen two years later.
The findings offer an efficient and cost-effective approach to improving children's oral health through school-based care.
Dental cavities are the most common chronic disease in children.
CariedAway is a randomized trial comparing the effectiveness of two cavity-prevention techniques: a "simple" treatment using silver diamine fluoride (SDF) and fluoride varnish, and a "complex" treatment using traditional glass ionomer sealants and fluoride varnish.
The researchers found that both the simple and complex treatments were successful: just one cavity prevention treatment prevented more than 80% of cavities (81% for SDF and 82% for sealants) and stopped half of cavities from progressing (56% for SDF and 46% for sealants).
"Without prevention, dental cavities grow continuously if not treated. One CariedAway cavity prevention treatment, provided just before schools closed during the pandemic, was remarkably effective over the following two-year period," said Richard Niederman, DMD. "I know of no other dental preventive intervention that had this great a beneficial impact across the pandemic."
While the limited availability of trained dental professionals can pose challenges for school sealant programs, as sealants are applied by a dentist or dental hygienist, SDF may be an attractive alternative, as it can also be applied by nurses—a workforce already in place in many schools.
(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...
Consequently, the use of SDF is probably for baby teeth.
Also, these treatments should only be allowed with parental permission. This write up, along with the location (NYC) being a place that despises parental involvement in children's decisions, leaves me less than impressed, yet, I do believe this can be helpful.
TWENTY YEARS FROM NOW THEY WILL SUDDENLY DISCOVER THIS CAUSES MOUTH CANCER.......................
Dentists will be protesting the loss of business.
My daughter had then used dental sealant applied to her teeth in 1995 when she was 5 years old and she has never had a cavity!
The temporary fluoride treatment given to kids for decades is of minimal help, in comparison.
The new treatment in this study (and the better nano silver one I mentioned above, that doesn't stain) is not available everywhere, so I say full-steam ahead on the sealants.
Honestly, this or sealing treatments should be required on all welfare and Medicaid families. Bad teeth lead to a host of chronic illnesses and lower economic success. And it’s a vicious downward spiral with aging. And they flat don’t focus enough on it in health classes. Always with the sex garbage and nothing about their teeth.
“TWENTY YEARS FROM NOW THEY WILL SUDDENLY DISCOVER THIS CAUSES MOUTH CANCER.......................”
Has been an approved treatment for over 50 years. In use for over 100 years.
My teeth were saved by painting them with fluoride right after WWII, probably late 40s or early 50s. I had to go to the dentist about five times and he would put cotton around my gums to dry the teeth real good. Then he applied the fluoride and I had to sit there until it dried. Sure as heck it saved my teeth and I’m 83 now.
“TWENTY YEARS FROM NOW THEY WILL SUDDENLY DISCOVER THIS CAUSES MOUTH CANCER.......................”
Could be. One has to be careful and closely check out “too good to be true” solutions.
Great! So now kids can eat all the sugar they want and they don’t have to prioritize oral hygiene.
Want to get that clean and polished feeling after a dental visit? Apple cider vinegar just a little with baking soda and lots of foam. At 60 I was about to give up sweets until I discovered this.
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