Dentine Caries

This is a community-based, parallel-group, double-blinded randomised controlled trial aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of single and dual applications of 38% Silver Fluoride (SF) in arresting dentinal caries among Malaysian preschool children aged 4 to 6 years. The main questions this study aims to answer are: i) Does dual application of 38% Silver Fluoride differ from single application in arresting dentinal caries lesions after 6 months? ii) How does SF application influence oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) among preschool children, as measured by the Malay-ECOHIS questionnaire? iii) Is there a correlation between caries arrest and changes in Oral Health-Related Quality of Life (OHRQoL) measured using the Malay-ECOHIS questionnaire? Researchers will compare children receiving a single application of 38% Silver Fluoride with those receiving dual applications to determine whether more frequent application improves caries arrest outcomes. Participants will: i) Undergo oral examination for assessment of dentinal caries using ICDAS criteria. ii) Receive 38% Silver Fluoride application at baseline, with the dual-application group receiving an additional application at 3 months. iii) Attend follow-up assessments at 3 and 6 months to evaluate caries arrest status. iv) Have parents or guardians complete the Malay-ECOHIS questionnaire to assess changes in OHRQoL.