Effectiveness of nanosilver fluoride in arresting dental caries in children with one- year follow-up – a systematic review

Objective This systematic review assesses the effectiveness of nanosilver fluoride in arresting dental caries in children, with one-year follow-up. Methodology Multiple databases were searched for RCTs (randomized controlled trials) according to specified inclusion-exclusion criteria. PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analysis) reporting guidelines were followed to conduct the systematic review. Nanosilver fluoride was compared against silver diamine fluoride varnish or topical fluoride varnish or placebo. The primary outcome was effectiveness in arresting dental caries. The Cochrane risk of bias tool was used to assess the risk of bias. Data sources Articles were searched in the following databases: PubMed, Ovid, Web of Science, Wiley Online, Proquest and Cinahl. Data selection The initial search yielded a total of 3660 hits. After deduplication, a total of 2507 articles were obtained. After screening the title and abstract, 11 studies were included. After the full-text screening, a total of three articles that fulfilled the eligibility criteria were included in the analyses. Data extraction and data synthesis All the three studies were RCTs carried out in school children, and involved application of the material in primary teeth with a follow-up of one year. Results In two studies, nanosilver fluoride varnish group showed significantly higher arrest of dental caries compared to placebo group. In the study comparing nanosilver fluoride and silver diamine, both the groups showed arrest of dental caries and there was no significant difference between the groups. One study showed high risk of bias for allocation concealment. Conclusion The included studies in the final review effectively demonstrated the benefit of using nanosilver fluoride in the arrest of dental caries.