Can silver diamine fluoride reduce invasive treatments with general anesthesia?

This study aims to retrospectively evaluate the differences in dental treatments rendered in general anesthesia (GA) for patients who did or did not receive application of silver diamine fluoride (SDF) prior to GA. 1559 patients (≤6 years) who completed treatment with GA for caries at University of California San Francisco (UCSF) between 2015 and 2019 were included in the study. At baseline patients' electronic health record was reviewed to collect planned treatment, complete dental treatment and demographics. Patients were identified as SDF group (N = 335, 21.49%) or comparison (N = 1224, 78.51%). Dental treatments rendered were compared between the SDF and comparison group with multi-variable regression, including variables for demographics and clinical findings at baseline. The initial analysis identified variations in gender, age, dental pain, pulp involvement, and initial treatment plans between the SDF and comparison groups at baseline. In an unadjusted analysis, the SDF group displayed a statistically significant increase in the number of crown procedures but a notable decrease in the number of pulp therapy and extraction treatments completed (p < 0.05). An adjusted multivariable model affirmed the inverse relationship between SDF application and completion of pulp therapy and extractions at the time of GA (p < 0.05). No significant association was identified with the total number of crowns needed and SDF. The model further indicated a positive correlation between the total count of pulp therapy and extractions completed with patient age and the wait-time for GA. In conclusion, pre-GA application of SDF to carious primary teeth is negatively correlated with completed pulp therapy and extraction. SDF application prior to dental treatment with GA may be a valuable tool to reduce invasive dental procedures in GA.