Quick fix for Kids' cavities? study tests fastest SDF application time
NCT ID NCT04655430
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study tested different application times (3 seconds to 2 minutes) of 38% silver diamine fluoride solution to see which works best for stopping cavities in preschool children. Over 600 healthy kids aged 3-5 with at least one cavity participated. Researchers checked if the cavity surface became hard (arrested) and looked at tooth color changes. The goal is to find the shortest effective time to make treatment easier for young children.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- silver diamine fluoride (38% SDF) solution
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could identify the shortest effective application time for SDF, making cavity treatment faster and easier for young children.
- What could go wrong
- This is a completed Phase 2/3 trial, but the optimal time may still vary by child. SDF can stain teeth black, which may be a cosmetic concern.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
-
Phase 2/3
Runs two stages together: whether the treatment works, then large-scale confirmation.
- Participants
-
665 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
-
Oct 2021
- Finished
-
Jul 2022
- Lead sponsor
-
Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
-
3 to 5 years
- Sex
-
Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
-
Accepted
You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: (a) 3-5 year old children attending the first to the third year of kindergarten; (b) free from any systemic conditions and generally healthy; (c) parents sign informed consent (d) having at least 1 tooth with cavitated dentine carious lesion. Exclusion Criteria: * uncooperative and difficult to manage, have major systemic diseases such as porphyria, or are on long-term medication such as anti-epileptic drugs.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
Local kindergartens
Hong Kong, Hong Kong
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Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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