LT Comparative Effectiveness of 2 Caries Treatments

This study is a continuation of a cluster randomized clinical trial (cRCT) conducted in 33 publicly subsidized housing facilities/sites (HUD Section 202) and other low-income housing voucher programs in NE Ohio. The Intervention Arm (18 sites) - participants received biannual silver diamine fluoride (SDF) versus the Control Arm (15 sites) where participants received atraumatic restorative treatment (ART) with glass ionomer cement (GIC) + biannual fluoride varnish (FV) application. A total of 568 participants were recruited in the original study, and 480 participants (Intervention Arm: 287, Control Arm: 193) are expected to continue in this long-term follow-up study. Since enrollment in the original study was done over time, each participant will contribute data at 3 to 6 years (from randomization) in the LTFU depending on study entry to assess clinical equipoise of the two treatments.

Community-dwelling older adults, regardless of medical, cognitive, or motor impairments, were considered for inclusion in the original study and were: (1) aged ≥ 62 years in the 33 housing facilities; (2) have at least one untreated active root or coronal carious lesion with ICDAS-II lesion severity code of 3 or greater ; (3) willingness to stay in the study for 1 year. Exclusion criteria: (1) sensitivity to silver or other heavy-metal ions; (2) serious life-threatening medical disease. Additionally, any participant with the presence of gingival/perioral ulceration or stomatitis or tooth abscess in any specific tooth were referred to a dentist and enrolled after resolution. The LTFU study will follow the same enrolled participants long-term. The current mean (sd) age of the 480 participants who will enter the LTFU study will be 73.73 (6.92) years.