Acceptance of silver diamine fluoride by caregivers of 5-year-old children

INTRODUCTION: Minimally invasive techniques are effective in treating dental caries, including treatment with Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF), but the treatment requires parental acceptance, mainly due to the potential for tooth discoloration. OBJECTIVES: Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the acceptance of SDF treatment by caregivers of 5-year-old children. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in public preschools in Araraquara, São Paulo, Brazil. Caregivers completed a self-administered questionnaire addressing socioeconomic and demographic variables, education level, dental service use, oral health habits, and knowledge. Acceptance of SDF was assessed by the question: "Would you accept this non-invasive treatment, which is effective in controlling this disease?" accompanied by photographs showing carious primary teeth before and after SDF application. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. RESULTS: Of the 525 participants, 34.7 % (n = 197) would accept SDF treatment for any primary tooth, 26.1 % (n = 148) would accept it for any tooth, and 5.1 % (n = 29) only for posterior teeth. About 20.6 % (n = 117) reported unwillingness to accept the treatment. Acceptance was significantly higher among caregivers with a monthly income around US$600 (85 %; p = 0.039) and those who believed their children needed dental treatment (85.4 %; p = 0.011). CONCLUSION: The data indicates that SDF treatment was well-received, particularly by parents with lower to medium incomes and those recognizing their children's dental care needs. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Silver Diamine Fluoride is a clinically valuable, minimally invasive option for caries management in preschool children and should be considered in public oral health programs despite esthetic drawbacks.