Abstract
A clinical trial was designed to evaluate the effect of multiple applications of Ag-(NH3)2F on the incidence and progress of interproximal dental caries in primary molars. Fifty eight children were selected after clinical and radiographic examinations. Each child had at least one contralateral pair of intact interproximal surfaces or a pair of interproximal surfaces with enamel caries. Randomly selected test sides were treated with 38% Ag(NH3)2F for 3 minutes by using unwaxed dental floss. Control sides were flossed with plain unwaxed dental floss. These treatments were done at intervals of 3 months. Caries incidence and progress were followed clinically and radiographically by bitewings every 6 months for a total of 18 months. The following results were obtained:
1) The incidence of new interproximal caries was significantly reduced during treatment as compared with the control.
2) The progress of enamel caries on interproximal surfaces was significantly reduced during treatment as compared with the control. In summary, these results suggested that multiple topical application of Ag(NH3)2F on interproximal tooth surfaces in primary molars should be effective for the control of interproximal caries development.
