The effectiveness of silver diamine fluoride and propolis fluoride in arresting caries on primary teeth: A study on kindergarten students in west jakarta, indonesia

The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of topical application of silver diamine fluoride (SDF) solution and topical application of propolis fluoride in arresting active dentine caries in primary teeth. A total of 224 children, aged 3-4 years, were randomly allocated to one of three groups for treatment of carious dentine cavities in their primary teeth: group 1-application of SDF, group 2 -application of Propolis Fluoride, group 3 -control. Follow-up examinations were carried out 7 days, 1 month and 3 months to assess whether the treated caries lesions had become arrested. After 3 months follow up, 163 (72.8%) children remained in the study. The caries arrest rates were 88.68%, 55.78% and 2.13% for group 1, group 2 and group 3. Application of SDF solution or Propolis Fluoride solution can arrest active dentine caries. Topical application of SDF is more effective than Propolis Fluoride in inhibiting caries lesions progression, but Propolis Fluoride has the advantage that the arrested caries lesion will not turn black in colour like SDF.