What is it about?
Generally, it's about keeping the mouth healthy in elderly patients without extreme treatments. This was a small clinical trial using a fluoride varnish on elderly patients that had symptoms of periodontitis. Over three weeks, the treatment and control group had solutions applied to their teeth and the health of the gingiva (tissues surrounding the teeth) were assessed. In the patients that were treated with the SDF had less gingival inflammation and plaque.
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Why is it important?
This study showed that 38% SDF was effective in reducing gingival inflammation and plaque accumulation in older adults living in retirement-homes. This was a once-a-week treatment.
Perspectives
Being involved in this research was very rewarding. We were able to establish a simple weekly treatment that could improve oral health. Oral health is an essential component of general health and well-being, especially for older adults. Poor oral health can affect the quality of life, nutrition, social interaction, and systemic health of older adults. Among the common oral diseases affecting older adults, gingivitis is a prevalent and reversible form of periodontal disease that is characterized by inflammation of the gingiva without loss of attachment.
Regents Professor Kathy K. H. Svoboda
Texas A&M College of Dentistry
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Efficacy of 38% silver diamine fluoride in reducing gingival inflammation and plaque accumulation in older adults living in retirement-homes: A randomized controlled pilot trial, Journal of Dentistry, April 2024, Elsevier,
DOI: 10.1016/j.jdent.2024.104890.
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