Background: Childhood obesity and dental caries are prevalent chronic, multifactorial conditions with adverse health consequences and considerable healthcare costs. The aims of this study were: (1) to evaluate the relationship between obesity and dental caries among young children using multiple definitions for both conditions, and (2) to evaluate the role of family socioeconomic status (SES) and the child’s intake of added sugars in explaining this association. Methods: Data from 2775 2–5-year-olds children from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2011–2018 were analysed. Three different international standards were used to define obesity, namely the World Health Organization (WHO), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the International Obesity Task Force (IOTF). Dental caries was measured during clinical examinations and summarised as counts (dt and dft scores) and prevalence (untreated caries [dt > 0] and caries experience [dft > 0]). The association of obesity with dental caries was assessed in regression models controlling for demographic factors, family SES and child’s intake of added sugars. Results: In crude models, obesity was associated with greater dt scores when using the IOTF standards (RR: 2.43, 95% CI: 1.11, 5.29) but not when using the WHO and CDC standards; obesity was associated with greater dft scores when using the WHO (1.57, 95%CI: 1.11–2.22), CDC (1.70, 95%CI: 1.17–2.46) and IOTF standards (2.43, 95%CI: 1.73–3.42); obesity was associated with lifetime caries prevalence when using the WHO (1.55, 95%CI: 1.05–2.29), CDC (1.73, 95%CI: 1.14–2.62) and IOTF standards (2.45, 95%CI: 1.61–3.71), but not with untreated caries prevalence. These associations were fully attenuated after controlling for demographic factors, family SES and child’s intake of added sugars. Conclusions: The relationship between obesity and dental caries in primary teeth varied based on the definition of obesity and dental caries used. Associations were observed when obesity was defined using the IOTF standards and dental caries was defined using lifetime indicators. Associations were fully attenuated after adjusting for well-known determinants of both conditions.

Background. The purpose of this systematic review was to assess the clinical efficacy (sensitivity reduction) and safety (gum damage) of silver diamine fluoride (SDF) as a tooth desensitizer for adults. Methods. The search strategy was developed and adapted from 12 databases. Two independent reviewers selected the studies in consensus with a third reviewer. Randomized clinical trials with adult volunteers affected by dentin hypersensitivity (DH), and receiving treatment with SDF were included. Studies with volunteers testing tooth whitening products, using some type of desensitizer, or taking analgesic or anti-inflammatory medication were excluded. The risk of bias was assessed according to the RoB 2 tool, and confidence in cumulative evidence, according to GRADE. Results. Only 3 articles were included. The average pain assessed using the visual analog scale was lower in the SDF groups than in the short-term control groups (24h to 7 days) (P=0.0134 and P=0.0015) of the two studies. The third study evaluated a combination of SDF and a CO2 laser, compared to using only SDF, and found no statistical difference between the two (P=0.74). Inflammation and gingival staining were also evaluated in two of the three studies. No adverse effects were reported. All the included studies had a high risk of bias, and the certainty of the evidence was very low. Conclusion. SDF can be used as a safe and effective tooth desensitizer in adults, with good results, as was achieved in a short-term follow-up. However, more studies with longer evaluation periods are required.