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Status unknownNCT04766775SDFUpdated Mar 3, 2021

The Pharmacokinetics of Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF) in Healthy Children

An interventional study of Silver Diamine Fluoride in Dental Caries in Children, sponsored by University of Malaya. Status unknown at 1 site in Malaysia. Open to participants aged 4 Years to 10 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2021-03-03.

Sponsored by University of Malaya · Not applicable, Interventional, and Basic science

The sponsor has not verified this record recently (last verified Mar 2021), so the status shown — last known as Active, not recruiting — may be out of date.

From the registry’s dates

  • Registered 7 months after the study started (first participant enrolled Jul 2020, registered Feb 2021).
Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
15
Allocation
Not applicable
Ages
4 Years to 10 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

This study focus on the pharmacokinetic characteristic of silver diamine fluoride (SDF) in healthy children. All of the children received treatment for the decayed teeth in the same way. A medication called silver diamine fluoride is used to treat the decayed teeth. It contains a high concentration of fluoride (range from 14100 ppm to 51013 ppm) and silver. This medication halts the decay process through the combined effects of anti-bacterial from silver and remineralization from fluoride. As this product contains the highest concentration of fluoride level found in the market and the metal element of silver, the investigators aim to study the body's reaction towards SDF. The investigators collect the hair and urine samples at different time points and then analyze them to determine the silver and/or fluoride levels. The outcomes include 1. the silver level in the hair and urine samples 2. the fluoride level in the urine samples. The investigators analyze the silver level in hair and urine samples using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS); fluoride level in urine samples using Ion-Selective Electrode.

Read the detailed description

This research aims to determine the pharmacokinetics characteristics of silver and fluoride following topical application of Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF) in healthy children. The use of Silver Diamine Fluoride is increasingly widespread since the device is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the United States in 2014, especially among the pediatric population. It is a single-arm, clinical study with the specific objectives: 1. to assess the level of silver and fluoride in the urine sample of patients receiving the SDF treatment; 2. to evaluate the pharmacokinetics of silver, based on the hair sample of patients receiving the SDF treatment. The investigators hypothesize that the pharmacokinetic characteristics of silver diamine fluoride in healthy children are different from that of silver diamine fluoride in healthy adults. The research is taking place at the Paediatrics Dentistry Specialist Clinic, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Malaya. The investigators have used a convenience sampling method to recruit children aged 4-10 years old to join the study. The investigators have calculated the sample size based on the alpha error probability of 0.05 and the power of study at 95%. The investigators have recruited children with at least one decayed primary tooth without clinical signs or symptoms. Radiographically the deepest layer of caries lesion does not involve the pulp. The investigators have excluded children with known medical illness, having glass ionomer or stainless steel crown restorations in the oral cavity. All of the recruited patients received the same intervention, the application of SDF onto the tooth cavity. The investigators have taken the patients' biological samples (urine and hair) to assess the silver and/or fluoride levels. The urine samples are collected before the SDF treatment, in the first and second 24 hours after the SDF treatment. Besides that, hair samples are collected before the SDF treatment, followed by days 7,14,30,60,75, and 90 after the SDF treatment. The silver level in hair and urine samples were analyzed using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS); fluoride level in urine samples using Ion-Selective Electrode. After review at days 90, if caries remains active despite the SDF treatment, the investigators will restore the SDF treated teeth or continue the six-monthly application of SDF depending on the patient's ability to cope with the procedure and the caries status.

02

Conditions studied

  • Dental Caries in Children

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Keywords

  • silver diamine fluoride
03

In context

Dental Caries

1,109 studies on the registry are indexed under Dental Caries; 197 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 15 is below the median of 60 across 915 interventional studies indexed under Dental Caries.

Browse Dental Caries studies →

Lead sponsor

University of Malaya is the lead sponsor of 280 studies on the registry; 55 are open to participants now.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
4 Years to 10 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

  1. Healthy children aged between 4 to 10 years old
  • With at least one decayed primary tooth without clinical signs or symptoms suggesting reversible or irreversible pulpitis.
  • Radiographically the deepest layer of caries lesion does not encroach on pulp, and inter-radicular supporting structures appear normal

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Children aged below 4 years and above 10 years
  2. Healthy children aged between 4 to 10 years old

    • Do not have decayed teeth
    • The decayed tooth with clinical signs or symptoms suggesting reversible or irreversible pulpitis
    • Radiographically the deepest layer of caries lesion does encroach on pulp, and inter-radicular supporting structures appear abnormal
    • No consent and permission to join the study
    • Taking medications/over the counter medications/supplements
    • Known allergy to silver or fluoride
    • Presence of ulcer in the mouth which has not heal completely
    • Presence of at least one tooth treated with silver fillings or stainless steel crown.
    • Presence of at least one tooth filled with a material that contains glass particles known as glass ionomer within a year before this research.
    • Children with medical problems
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Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Basic science
Allocation
Not applicable
Intervention model
Single group
Masking
None (open label)
Enrollment
15 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Other
    Application of Silver Diamine Fluoride onto the carious teeth surfaces

    The patients will receive Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF) treatment to the carious primary teeth. These are teeth with no sign or symptom, radiographically the deepest layer of the caries lesion does not involve the pulp, the inter-radicular area appears normal). Procedure: apply vaseline, isolate the tooth with a cotton roll, remove the food debris, and gross plaque on the tooth cavity with a spoon excavator, dry the tooth, apply the SDF (a clear, colorless solution) onto the tooth cavity. This application lasts for one minute. Take the urine and hair sample to assess the silver and fluoride levels. Take the urine sample before the SDF treatment, in the first and second 24 hours after the SDF treatment. Take the hair samples before the SDF treatment, followed by days 7,14,30,60,75, and 90 after the SDF treatment. Send the hair and urine samples to the laboratory to assess the silver and fluoride levels. If caries remains active, restore the SDF treated after the day 90 review.

    Device: Silver Diamine Fluoride

Interventions

  • DeviceSilver Diamine Fluoride

    Silver Diamine Fluoride (Riva Star) which contains silver, fluoride, ammonia and water.

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. To assess the silver level in the hair samples (µg/g)

    SDF treatment will be provided to the patients, hair samples will be collected at day 7 after the SDF treatment

    Time frame: 7 days

  2. To assess the silver level in the hair samples (µg/g)

    SDF treatment will be provided to the patients, hair samples will be collected at day 14 after the SDF treatment

    Time frame: 14 days

  3. To assess the silver level in the hair samples (µg/g)

    SDF treatment will be provided to the patients, hair samples will be collected at day 30 after the SDF treatment

    Time frame: 30 days

  4. To assess the silver level in the hair samples (µg/g)

    SDF treatment will be provided to the patients, hair samples will be collected at day 60 after the SDF treatment

    Time frame: 60 days

  5. To assess the silver level in the hair samples (µg/g)

    SDF treatment will be provided to the patients, hair samples will be collected at day 75 after the SDF treatment

    Time frame: 75 days

  6. To assess the silver level in the hair samples (µg/g)

    SDF treatment will be provided to the patients, hair samples will be collected at day 90 after the SDF treatment

    Time frame: 90 days

  7. To assess the fluoride level in the urine samples (µg/24h)

    SDF treatment will be provided to the patients, urine samples will be collected before the start of the treatment; in the first and second 24 hour after the treatment

    Time frame: 72 hours

  8. To assess the silver level in the urine samples (µg/24h)

    SDF treatment will be provided to the patients, urine samples will be collected before the start of the treatment; in the first and second 24 hour after the treatment

    Time frame: 72 hours

07

Study locations

1 site
  • University of Malaya
    Kuala Lumpur, Kuala 50603, Malaysia
08

References and documents

Publications

  • Vasquez E, Zegarra G, Chirinos E, Castillo JL, Taves DR, Watson GE, Dills R, Mancl LL, Milgrom P. Short term serum pharmacokinetics of diammine silver fluoride after oral application. BMC Oral Health. 2012 Dec 31;12:60. doi: 10.1186/1472-6831-12-60. PubMed 23272643 ↗
  • Chen KF, Milgrom P, Lin YS. Silver Diamine Fluoride in Children Using Physiologically Based PK Modeling. J Dent Res. 2020 Jul;99(8):907-913. doi: 10.1177/0022034520917368. Epub 2020 May 6. PubMed 32374712 ↗
  • Lansdown AB. Silver in health care: antimicrobial effects and safety in use. Curr Probl Dermatol. 2006;33:17-34. doi: 10.1159/000093928. PubMed 16766878 ↗
  • Crystal YO, Marghalani AA, Ureles SD, Wright JT, Sulyanto R, Divaris K, Fontana M, Graham L. Use of Silver Diamine Fluoride for Dental Caries Management in Children and Adolescents, Including Those with Special Health Care Needs. Pediatr Dent. 2017 Sep 15;39(5):135-145. PubMed 29070149 ↗
  • Lansdown AB. Silver. I: Its antibacterial properties and mechanism of action. J Wound Care. 2002 Apr;11(4):125-30. doi: 10.12968/jowc.2002.11.4.26389. PubMed 11998592 ↗
  • Ngara B, Zvada S, Chawana TD, Stray-Pedersen B, Nhachi CFB, Rusakaniko S. A population pharmacokinetic model is beneficial in quantifying hair concentrations of ritonavir-boosted atazanavir: a study of HIV-infected Zimbabwean adolescents. BMC Pharmacol Toxicol. 2020 Aug 3;21(1):58. doi: 10.1186/s40360-020-00437-y. PubMed 32746923 ↗
  • Cooper GA, Kronstrand R, Kintz P; Society of Hair Testing. Society of Hair Testing guidelines for drug testing in hair. Forensic Sci Int. 2012 May 10;218(1-3):20-4. doi: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2011.10.024. Epub 2011 Nov 15. PubMed 22088946 ↗
  • Kintz P. Hair Analysis in Forensic Toxicology: An Updated Review with a Special Focus on Pitfalls. Curr Pharm Des. 2017;23(36):5480-5486. doi: 10.2174/1381612823666170929155628. PubMed 28969544 ↗
  • Lin YS, Rothen ML, Milgrom P. Pharmacokinetics of 38% topical silver diamine fluoride in healthy adult volunteers. J Am Dent Assoc. 2019 Mar;150(3):186-192. doi: 10.1016/j.adaj.2018.10.018. PubMed 30803490 ↗
  • Villa A, Anabalon M, Zohouri V, Maguire A, Franco AM, Rugg-Gunn A. Relationships between fluoride intake, urinary fluoride excretion and fluoride retention in children and adults: an analysis of available data. Caries Res. 2010;44(1):60-8. doi: 10.1159/000279325. Epub 2010 Feb 2. PubMed 20130402 ↗
  • Wilschefski SC, Baxter MR. Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry: Introduction to Analytical Aspects. Clin Biochem Rev. 2019 Aug;40(3):115-133. doi: 10.33176/AACB-19-00024. PubMed 31530963 ↗
  • DiVincenzo GD, Giordano CJ, Schriever LS. Biologic monitoring of workers exposed to silver. Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 1985;56(3):207-15. doi: 10.1007/BF00396598. PubMed 4066049 ↗
  • Goulle JP, Mahieu L, Castermant J, Neveu N, Bonneau L, Laine G, Bouige D, Lacroix C. Metal and metalloid multi-elementary ICP-MS validation in whole blood, plasma, urine and hair. Reference values. Forensic Sci Int. 2005 Oct 4;153(1):39-44. doi: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2005.04.020. PubMed 15979835 ↗
  • World Health Organization. (2014). Basic methods for assessing renal fluoride excretion in community prevention programmes for oral health. World Health Organization. https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/112662

Study documents

  • Informed consent form · Jul 1, 2020

Documents are hosted by the registry — open the source record to download them.

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No

09

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Mar 3, 2021, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
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Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT04766775
Lead sponsor
University of Malaya
Responsible party
Dr Lim Siau Peng (Principal Investigator, Postgraduate student year 3, Department of Paediatric Dentistry, University of Malaya) — Principal investigator
First posted
Feb 23, 2021
Start date
Jul 3, 2020
Primary completion
Nov 26, 2020
Completion
Nov 26, 2021 (estimated)
Last update
Mar 3, 2021

Study contacts

Siau Peng Lim, DDS (USM)
principal investigator · University of Malaya, Faculty of Dentistry

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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