A clinical comparison of non-traumatic methods of treating dental caries

Over a period of 18 months the following non-traumatic methods of treating dental caries in deciduous teeth were compared: application of stannous fluoride (SnF2); application of SnF2 and silver diamine fluoride (SDF); application of SnF2, SDF, minimal cavity preparation and use of composite resin; minimal cavity preparation and composite resin only; no treatment. Caries progressed in only 5 per cent of the SDF/SnF2 group and 11 per cent of the composite resin group. The results indicate that it may be possible to treat carious lesions in a non-traumatic way using minimally prepared cavities and composite resin. This could significantly alter the restorative care of deciduous molars and it may be reasonable to speculate that the technique could also have important implications for use in the permanent dentition.