B B Chambon, J P Lopes, G Balixa, L Bandeira Lopes
The biannual use of 38% SDF remains the most evidence-supported, non-invasive intervention for arresting caries in primary dentition. Further high-quality randomised trials are required to confirm long-term outcomes and support clinical guideline development.
AIM: To synthesise evidence from existing systematic reviews on the clinical effectiveness of SDF for the prevention and arrest of dental caries in primary teeth.
METHODS: This umbrella review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Systematic reviews (SRs), with or without meta-analyses, involving paediatric populations treated with SDF were retrieved from five databases (PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, CENTRAL, LILCAS) up to January 2025. Methodological quality was assessed using the AMSTAR 2 tool.
CONCLUSION: The biannual use of 38% SDF remains the most evidence-supported, non-invasive intervention for arresting caries in primary dentition. Further high-quality randomised trials are required to confirm long-term outcomes and support clinical guideline development.