Salivary pH Levels at Three Different Time Intervals after Application of Silver Diamine Fluoride in Children with Severe Early Childhood Caries: A Quasi-experimental Study
Correspondence Address :
Dr. Umapathy Thimmegowda,
Professor, Department of Paediatric and Preventive Dentistry, Rajarajeswari Dental College and Hospital, #14, Ramohalli Cross, Kumbalgodu, Mysuru Road, Bengaluru-560074, Karnataka, India.
E-mail: umapathygowda@gmail.com
Introduction: Early Childhood Caries (ECC) is a major public health issue that negatively affects children’s physical and mental health. Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF) is a novel material that has the potential to improve dentin hypersensitivity and enhance enamel remineralisation. This alkaline solution is known to be more resistant to acidic environments than hydroxyapatite.
Aim: To measure the pH (Potential of Hydrogen) in saliva at three different intervals after the application of 38% SDF in children with ECC.
Materials and Methods: This pre-post single-group quasi-experimental study was conducted in the Department of Paediatric and Preventive Dentistry at Rajarajeswari Dental College and Hospital in Bengaluru, Karnataka, India from September 2021 to February 2022. A total of 15 patients with ECC, aged 3-6 years, were selected for the application of 38% SDF. Saliva samples were collected before the application, immediately after the application, and one hour after the application of 38% SDF. pH analysis was then conducted. The data obtained were subjected to statistical analysis. Repeated measures of Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and Bonferroni’s post-hoc test were used for multiple comparisons of salivary pH levels at different time intervals. Age and gender-wise comparisons of mean salivary pH levels at different time intervals were conducted using an independent Student’s t-test.
Results: Among the 15 participants included in the study, the average age of the subjects was 4.60±1.06 years. Among the study participants, 9 (60.0%) were males and 6 (40.0%) were females. A comparison of mean salivary pH levels at different time intervals showed that the mean salivary pH levels before the SDF application were 6.45±0.22, immediately after the application were 6.95±0.18, and one hour after the application were 7.30±0.27. In the gender-wise comparison, a higher mean pH was recorded in males than in females.
Conclusion: The change in mean pH was found to be statistically significant before and after the application of SDF, as well as at the one-hour time interval, showing an increasing trend. This indicates that the changes in salivary pH that occur after applying 38% SDF are clinically significant and can be used as an effective caries control and preventive strategy.
Dental caries, Prevention, Remineralisation
DOI: 10.7860/JCDR/2024/72634.20172
Date of Submission: May 07, 2024
Date of Peer Review: May 27, 2024
Date of Acceptance: Aug 18, 2024
Date of Publishing: Oct 01, 2024
AUTHOR DECLARATION:
• Financial or Other Competing Interests: None
• Was Ethics Committee Approval obtained for this study? Yes
• Was informed consent obtained from the subjects involved in the study? Yes
• For any images presented appropriate consent has been obtained from the subjects. Yes
PLAGIARISM CHECKING METHODS:
• Plagiarism X-checker: May 07, 2024
• Manual Googling: May 29, 2024
• iThenticate Software: Aug 17, 2024 (15%)
ETYMOLOGY: Author Origin
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