Assessment of knowledge and perception about silver diamine fluoride (SDF) for treating older adults among graduating dental students

Abstract

Purpose/objectives: Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) is a promising therapy for arresting and preventing caries in difficult to treat, high-risk populations, including institutionalized older adults. This study investigates the knowledge and perceptions about SDF of graduating dental students in multiple U.S. dental schools, as well as their willingness to use SDF in their practices. Methods: A survey was designed consisting of 21 total questions: 6 questions regarding students' demographic information and their SDF content exposure contextualization, 8 questions tailored to investigate 2 domains regarding students' knowledge about SDF (properties and indication), and 7 questions aiming to investigate 3 domains regarding students' perceptions about SDF (SDF usefulness, appropriateness of using SDF, and willingness to use SDF when in private practice). The survey was then distributed to graduating dental students at 7 U.S. dental schools.

Knowledge, Attitudes and Professional Behavior of Silver Diamine Fluoride among Dental Personnel: A Systematic Review

“…Table 1 illustrates the general characteristics of the 14 included observational cross-sectional studies, which were published between 2019 and 2022. Of the studies, five (35.7%) were conducted in the United States of America [ 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 ] and another five (35.7%) were conducted in Saudi Arabia [ 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 ]. The remaining four studies were from Brazil (7.1%) [ 31 ], the Netherlands (7.1%) [ 17 ], Pakistan (7.1%) [ 32 ], and India (7.1%) [ 33 ].…”

“…The remaining four studies were from Brazil (7.1%) [ 31 ], the Netherlands (7.1%) [ 17 ], Pakistan (7.1%) [ 32 ], and India (7.1%) [ 33 ]. Out of the 14 studies, 10 (71.4%) were performed using an online survey distributed via email or WhatsApp, two (14.3%) used both paper-based and online surveys [ 17 , 26 ], one (7.1%) used only a paper-based survey [ 24 ], and one (7.1%) study did not mention which method was used in distributing the questionnaire [ 32 ]. Outcomes measured from all studies included knowledge, attitude, perception/perceived barriers or advantages, SDF professional behavior or usage, and possible related associations.…”

“…The sample size of included studies ranged from 58 (lowest) to 582 (highest) participants, with respondent ages from 20 to more than 60 years old. The majority of the respondents in seven studies were female (>60%) [ 17 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 32 , 33 ], in four studies the majority were male (>53%) [ 21 , 22 , 25 , 30 ], and three studies provided no data [ 23 , 24 , 31 ].…”

“…However, none of them mentioned the power of the study. In 10 out of 14 studies, confounding variables were quantified and statistically adjusted using multivariate logistic regression [ 21 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 30 , 31 , 32 ]. To conclude, nine studies were rated good quality [ 21 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 27 , 28 , 30 , 32 , 33 ], two were rated fair quality [ 26 , 31 ], and the remaining three were rated poor quality.…”

National Survey on Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF) Awareness, Knowledge, Attitude, and Use among General Dental Practitioners in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia—An Exploratory Survey

“…Moreover, they have an affinity toward the organic components of the dental substrates and readily bind to them [ 8 , 9 , 10 ]. Fluoride ions, on the other hand, have good calcifying and remineralizing properties after adhering to inorganic components of the tooth structures [ 11 , 12 ]. To take advantage of these properties for managing dental caries non-invasively, research was aimed at combining them to develop a painting material composed of silver and fluoride using amine as a stabilizing agent [ 13 ].…”