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Dental CariesPhase 4NCT07194629

Pilot and Feasibility Study of Impact of SDF 38% Application on Oral Health of Elderly With Autonomy Loss

A Phase 4 study testing Silver diamine Fluoride 38% in people with Dental Caries and Elderly, run by Université de Montréal at 3 sites in Canada.

Not yet recruiting

Opening soon. The study is approved but enrolment has not started yet. Sites may already take enquiries.

Sites and contacts
Official record
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Trial summary

Introduction: Dental caries constitutes a major oral health problem at a global scale for the elderly population. It impacts the health system due to its high incidence and prevalence and its associated costs. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 65 years and older
Conditions the study is for
Dental Caries, Elderly, Loss of Autonomy
What is being tested?
Silver diamine Fluoride 38%
Could I receive a placebo?
Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
How many people
60 participants
Where
3 sitesCanada
Study dates
1 Oct 2025to 31 Dec 2026
Phase
Phase 4
Are there results?
Not yet: the study is under way

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 65 years and older
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Elderly of 65 years of age or older living at a long-term care facility targeted by the study.
  • Should present at least one coronal or radicular active carious lesion that is asymptomatic, untreated, or a residual lesion under a restoration, and without pulp involvement.

Who cannot join

  • Participants with inadequate collaboration that may impede dental examination or treatment.
  • Participants with cardiac valve prostheses, a history of bacterial endocarditis, or valve disease following a heart transplant.
  • Completely edentulous elderly, as well as elderly presenting with no coronal or radicular caries
  • Participants allergic to silver, fluoride or ammonia.

Trial locations and contacts

3 sites in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.

Nadia Gargouri, Assistant professor contact

(514) 343-6111 ext. 45960

nadia.gargouri@umontreal.ca

Canada3 sites
  • Université de Montréal

    Montreal, Quebec, H3T1J4

    Nadia Gargouri, Assistant professor, (514) 343-6111 ext. 45960, nadia.gargouri@umontreal.ca

  • Institut universitaire de gériatrie de Montreal

    Montreal, Quebec, H3W1W5

    Nadia Gargouri, Assistant professor, (514) 343-6111 ext. 45960, nadia.gargouri@umontreal.ca

  • CHSLD Alfred Desrochers

    Montreal, Quebec, H3W2P2

    Nadia Gargouri, Assistant professor, (514) 343-6111 ext. 45960, nadia.gargouri@umontreal.ca

Other trials in Canada

About this study

Official title: Impact of Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF) 38% Application on the Oral Health of the Elderly With Loss of Autonomy Living in Long-term Care Homes (CHSLDs): A Pilot and Feasibility Effectiveness Study

Introduction: Dental caries constitutes a major oral health problem at a global scale for the elderly population. It impacts the health system due to its high incidence and prevalence and its associated costs. The growing population of elderly experiencing a loss of autonomy is accompanied by a decline in motor functions, which affects their ability to carry out everyday tasks such as brushing their teeth. The resulting poor oral hygiene can contribute to the onset of oral diseases. Dental caries can significantly impact the quality of life of the elderly by provoking pain, chewing difficulties, tooth loss and malnutrition. Recently, Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF) 38% has been introduced to the market as an efficient solution for promoting oral health and arresting active caries. SDF is a compound of silver, fluoride, and ammonia, which comes in the form of a bluish liquid and is applied in small amounts on active carious lesions. Despite its recent approval by Health Canada as a temporary solution for arresting active caries, few randomized controlled trials have evaluated its effectiveness on the institutionalized elderly.

Objectives: This pilot study aims to evaluate the impact of SDF on the oral health of the elderly living in long-term care facilities.

Read more

Principal objective: evaluate effectiveness of SDF on arrestation of active caries when applied for the elderly with loss of autonomy in long-term care facilities.

Secondary objectives:

  1. evaluate the relationship between SDF application and caries activity
  2. Analysis of salivary biomarkers involved in the associated inflammatory processes.

Methodology: A randomized controlled feasibility and effectiveness study design will be employed. This study will span over 12 months and will include 3 data collection phases.

At T0 (baseline): SDF group participants will receive an SDF application on their active caries. Control group participants will receive a 0.9% saline solution (placebo) application.

AT T1, 6 months after T0: First phase of data collection, the two groups will receive SDF application.

At T2, 12 months after T0: second phase of data collection, and for ethical reasons, the control group, who received placebo at T0, will receive an SDF application.

At the end of the project, a fluoride varnish application will be carried out on both groups to prolong preventive effects of treatment. A short questionnaire will also be shared with participants to evaluate their satisfaction and identify unintended adverse effects.

Anticipated results:

Demonstrate the efficiency of SDF in controlling active caries in the elderly with autonomy loss.

Elaborate a clinical protocol for SDF application in long-term care facilities Establish the required sample size for a future bigger study.

Being tested
Silver diamine Fluoride 38%, placebo solution
Medical subject headings
Dental Caries

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Silver diamine Fluoride 38%Drug

    SDF 38%, applied on tooth surface for arrestation of active carious lesions and prevention of development of new carious lesions

  • placebo solutionDrug

    bluish liquid designed to mimic the appearance of SDF 38%

Study groups in NCT07194629
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
InterventionExperimentalThis arm will be provided with the intervention
Receives: Drug: Silver diamine Fluoride 38%
ControlPlacebo comparatorFor ethical reasons the control arm will receive treatment after the first phase of data analysis
Receives: Drug: placebo solution

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Arrestation of active dental caries

    Evaluate the association between SDF 38% application and caries activity which will be measured at the end of the study by:

    1. Number of active carious lesions Description: Count of clinically active coronal or radicular carious lesions. Unit of measure: Number of lesions per participant. Measurement tool: Visual-tactile clinical examination using ICDAS II criteria.
    2. Number of carious lesions arrested by remineralization Description: Count of previously active lesions that present clinical signs of arrest (hard, shiny surface, absence of progression). Unit of measure: Number of arrested lesions per participant. Measurement tool: Visual-tactile clinical examination using ICDAS II criteria.
    3. Number of reactivated carious lesions (where applicable)

    Description: Count of previously arrested lesions that show new signs of activity.

    Unit of measure: Number of reactivated lesions per participant.

    Measurement tool: Visual-tactile clinical examination using ICDAS II criteria.

    Measured: 0 (baseline)- 6 months (T1)- 12 months (T2)

Secondary outcomes (3)
  1. Salivary biomarkers

    Salivary biomarkers involved in remineralization of enamel and tertiary dentin and the associated inflammatory processes

    Measured: 0 (baseline)- 6 months (T1)- 12 months (T2)

  2. Appreciation of participant

    Elderly and their representatives' appreciation of participation in the study evaluated by questionnaire

    Measured: 12 months(T2)

  3. Sample size estimation

    Sample size estimation for a future study

    Measured: 12 months(T2)

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted26 Sep 2025
  2. Study start1 Oct 2025 (estimated)
  3. Primary completion15 Nov 2026 (estimated)
  4. Study completion31 Dec 2026 (estimated)

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase 4
Primary purpose
Prevention
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Model description
Parallel-group RCT with a delayed intervention for the control group
Masking
Double blind
Who is masked
Participant, Outcomes assessor
Enrolment
60 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT07194629
Sponsor's protocol ID
CER VN 25-26-11
Status last verified
Sep 2025
First submitted
11 Sep 2025
Last updated
26 Sep 2025
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No

Publications

  • Sophie DOMÉJEAN , D.M., Lucas VAN DER SLUIS, Nicolas DECERLE, John DB FEATHERSTONE, Évaluation CAMBRA du risque carieux : version française. editionscdp.fr, 2012. 04

  • Griffin SO, Jones JA, Brunson D, Griffin PM, Bailey WD. Burden of oral disease among older adults and implications for public health priorities. Am J Public Health. 2012 Mar;102(3):411-8. doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2011.300362. Epub 2012 Jan 19.

    PubMed 22390504
  • AlQranei MS, Balhaddad AA, Melo MAS. The burden of root caries: Updated perspectives and advances on management strategies. Gerodontology. 2021 Jun;38(2):136-153. doi: 10.1111/ger.12511. Epub 2020 Nov 24.

    PubMed 33236462
  • Gugnani N, Pandit IK, Srivastava N, Gupta M, Sharma M. International Caries Detection and Assessment System (ICDAS): A New Concept. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent. 2011 May-Aug;4(2):93-100. doi: 10.5005/jp-journals-10005-1089. Epub 2010 Apr 15.

    PubMed 27672245
  • Li R, Lo EC, Liu BY, Wong MC, Chu CH. Randomized clinical trial on arresting dental root caries through silver diammine fluoride applications in community-dwelling elders. J Dent. 2016 Aug;51:15-20. doi: 10.1016/j.jdent.2016.05.005. Epub 2016 May 18.

    PubMed 27208876
  • Siqueira GSA, Hagemann PMS, Coelho DS, Santos FHD, Bertolucci PHF. Can MoCA and MMSE Be Interchangeable Cognitive Screening Tools? A Systematic Review. Gerontologist. 2019 Nov 16;59(6):e743-e763. doi: 10.1093/geront/gny126.

    PubMed 30517634
  • Featherstone JDB, Chaffee BW. The Evidence for Caries Management by Risk Assessment (CAMBRA(R)). Adv Dent Res. 2018 Feb;29(1):9-14. doi: 10.1177/0022034517736500.

    PubMed 29355423
  • Horst JA. Silver Fluoride as a Treatment for Dental Caries. Adv Dent Res. 2018 Feb;29(1):135-140. doi: 10.1177/0022034517743750.

    PubMed 29355428
  • Santé, O.m.d.l., Prévention et traitement des caries dentaires avec des produits sans mercure et une intervention minimale : Série de notes d'information de l'OMS sur la santé buccodentaire. 2022

  • Rosenblatt A, Stamford TC, Niederman R. Silver diamine fluoride: a caries "silver-fluoride bullet". J Dent Res. 2009 Feb;88(2):116-25. doi: 10.1177/0022034508329406.

    PubMed 19278981
  • Hobdell M, Petersen PE, Clarkson J, Johnson N. Global goals for oral health 2020. Int Dent J. 2003 Oct;53(5):285-8. doi: 10.1111/j.1875-595x.2003.tb00761.x. No abstract available.

    PubMed 14560802
  • Seifo N, Cassie H, Radford JR, Innes NPT. Silver diamine fluoride for managing carious lesions: an umbrella review. BMC Oral Health. 2019 Jul 12;19(1):145. doi: 10.1186/s12903-019-0830-5.

    PubMed 31299955
  • Worthington HV, Lewis SR, Glenny AM, Huang SS, Innes NP, O'Malley L, Riley P, Walsh T, Wong MCM, Clarkson JE, Veitz-Keenan A. Topical silver diamine fluoride (SDF) for preventing and managing dental caries in children and adults. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2024 Nov 7;11(11):CD012718. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD012718.pub2.

    PubMed 39508296
  • Oliveira BH, Cunha-Cruz J, Rajendra A, Niederman R. Controlling caries in exposed root surfaces with silver diamine fluoride: A systematic review with meta-analysis. J Am Dent Assoc. 2018 Aug;149(8):671-679.e1. doi: 10.1016/j.adaj.2018.03.028. Epub 2018 May 24.

    PubMed 29805039
  • McReynolds D, Duane B. Systematic review finds that silver diamine fluoride is effective for both root caries prevention and arrest in older adults. Evid Based Dent. 2018 Jun;19(2):46-47. doi: 10.1038/sj.ebd.6401304.

    PubMed 29930359

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A Phase 4 study testing Silver diamine Fluoride 38% in people with Dental Caries and Elderly, run by Université de Montréal at 3 sites in Canada.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 2 inclusion and 4 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 26 Sep 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 3 sites in Canada. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

What does this phase mean?

Phase 4 studies take place after a treatment is approved, to learn more about its long-term benefits and risks in everyday use.

Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.

Are results available for this study?

This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

Contact Nadia Gargouri, Assistant professor ((514) 343-6111 ext. 45960, nadia.gargouri@umontreal.ca), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Arrestation of active dental caries (time frame: 0 (baseline)- 6 months (T1)- 12 months (T2)). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT07194629, which also lists 64 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 26 Sep 2025.

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