Effectiveness of silver diamine fluoride 38% on reduction of gingivitis in dogs: a randomized clinical trial

IntroductionPeriodontal disease is a ubiquitous disease in small animal veterinary medicine. Currently regular professional dental cleaning and daily tooth brushing are considered gold standards in the prevention of periodontal disease. Efforts to find a noninvasive, cost effective and easy to use preventative for periodontal disease are ongoing. The primary objective of this double-blind randomized clinical trial was to determine if a single application of silver diamine fluoride (SDF) 38% on the buccal surface of all teeth would reduce gingivitis within 3 months in dogs with stage two periodontal disease.MethodsTwenty-nine client-owned dogs 3–12 years old, 6–35 pounds were randomized 1:1 into active and placebo-control groups. Both groups underwent a baseline treatment and a three-month follow-up under general anesthesia. Gingival Index (GI), Plaque Index (PI), and Calculus Index (CI) were assessed and recorded at each event.ResultsA single application of SDF 38% did not significantly lower GI relative to the control group. However, the GI score dropped significantly in both groups relative to baseline, with a 53% reduction in the average GI score for dogs that received SDF 38% treatment and a 44% reduction for dogs that received placebo treatment. There were no differences in PI or CI scores compared to control groups.ConclusionFurther research is needed to determine if a more frequent application or a longer study duration would yield a different outcome

Feasibility and acceptability of home delivery of water for dental caries control in latinx children — “sediento por una sonrisa,” thirsty for a smile : single-arm feasibility study

Background: Outcomes of surgical treatments under general anesthesia for early childhood caries of young children from low-income groups are poor requiring retreatment within 2 years. Dietary sugar is an ideal intervention target given that it is the most prominent risk factor for dental caries and there is increasing evidence of successful interventions to reduce its intake. Our aim is to investigate the feasibility and acceptability of the Thirsty for a Smile intervention, designed to promote consumption of water in lieu of sugar sweetened beverages, among children who underwent surgery for early childhood caries and their caregivers, mostly from Latino heritage. Methods: A single-arm feasibility study was conducted in a dental practice from a community health center in eastern Washington State. Bottled water was delivered to the participants’ homes and caregivers received patientcentered counseling for setting goals to increase children’s water intake and reduce sugar sweetened beverages consumption. We assessed the feasibility and acceptability of the intervention and study procedures through participation rates, interviews and a questionnaire completed by the caregivers. Data was analyzed and themes and descriptive statistics presented. Results: Twenty-two dyads of caregivers and their children between 2 and 9 years old who recently had surgical treatment for early childhood dental caries were enrolled. All study assessments were completed by more than 90% of participants, except for the final 24-h dietary recall (73%). Dietary counseling, both in person and brief telephone calls, was highly acceptable to the caregivers, and they also reported their children enjoyed and used the water bottles. On a scale from 1 to 10, the average rating for the helpfulness of the dietary counseling component for changing child’s drinking habits was 9.62 and for the water delivery component, 8.86. Conclusions: This study tested the feasibility of conducting a trial in a dental practice setting, and the acceptability among caregivers of young children who underwent surgery for early childhood caries. It demonstrated that the Thirsty for a Smile intervention and study processes were feasible and acceptable. The study provides useful information for implementation of a two-arm randomized controlled trial in this setting and may also benefit other researchers attempting to test similar interventions

Effects of a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Intervention Trial to Improve Disease Outcomes in Children with Inflammatory Bowel Disease:

Studies testing the efficacy of behavioral interventions to modify psychosocial sequelae of IBD in children are limited. This report presents outcomes through a six month follow up from a large RCT testing the efficacy of a cognitive-behavioral intervention for children with IBD and their parents

Home Delivery of Water for Caries Prevention in Latinx Children (“Sediento por una Sonrisa,” Thirsty for a Smile): Protocol for a Single-Arm Feasibility Study

BackgroundDental caries has significant public health implications afflicting young children. In addition to low social economic status, the most prominent risk factor for early childhood caries is sugar in the diet, particularly sugar-sweetened beverages. Dental treatment for caries in young children is commonly performed under general anesthesia and a significant proportion of children require repeated treatment. Interventions to reduce sugar-sweetened beverage consumption could lead to reduced rates of retreatment for dental caries in young children. ObjectiveThis protocol describes the rationale, design, and methods of the “Thirsty for a Smile” feasibility study. The aim of the study is to assess the feasibility, acceptability, and appropriateness of a dietary intervention promoting water consumption in lieu of sugar-sweetened beverages among young patients, mostly from Latino heritage. MethodsThis protocol describes a single-arm feasibility study. Twenty-one dyads of children and their caregivers will be recruited. Children between 2 and 9 years old who recently had treatment under general anesthesia for early childhood dental caries will be eligible to participate. The intervention has two components: (1) environmental, in which bottled water is delivered to participants’ homes; and (2) behavioral, in which caregivers will receive patient-centered counseling to increase children’s water intake and reduce sugar-sweetened beverages consumption. Dental caries and anthropometric data will be collected at examination during baseline and final visits. The primary outcome is feasibility and secondary outcomes are acceptability and appropriateness of the intervention. ResultsFunding has been obtained from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research and the University of Washington approved the study. The feasibility study was conducted from March to November 2019. ConclusionsThis feasibility study will test the study processes prior to a two-arm randomized controlled trial to determine feasibility and acceptability of the intervention and study procedures. This study may provide useful information for other researchers attempting to test similar interventions. International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)RR1-10.2196/3720