Benghazi Dentists' Awareness and Familiarity with Silver Diamine Fluoride as a Non-Invasive Dental Treatment Approach

Fatma Ashlak; Najat Elamami; Najma Alamami

doi:10.69667/lmj.26203

Authors

Fatma Ashlak Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Dentistry, Benghazi University, Benghazi, Libya https://orcid.org/0009-0005-7046-370X
Najat Elamami Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Dentistry, Benghazi University, Benghazi, Libya https://orcid.org/0009-0002-1289-8308
Najma Alamami Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Dentistry, Benghazi University, Benghazi, Libya https://orcid.org/0009-0004-6936-0722

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.69667/lmj.26203

Keywords:

SDF, Non-invasive Dental Approach, Dentists, Awareness, Familiarity

Abstract

This study aims to assess Benghazi dentists' awareness and familiarity with silver diamine fluoride as a non-invasive dental treatment approach. A cross-sectional survey was given to 240 dental specialists and general dentists (males and females) employed at private and public dental clinics in Benghazi, Libya. The study was approved by the scientific ethical committee of the Faculty of Dentistry, Benghazi, Libya. The questionnaire was designed and consisted of questions on the general information and information regarding dentists' Awareness and Familiarity with Silver Diamine Fluoride. In this study the majority of participants (80.4%) were heard about SDF application in dentistry, 52.5% of respondents have attended lectures or discussions about silver diamine fluoride while 62.5% said that, the anterior and posterior teeth are indicated for "SDF" application whereas (52.1%) said that, they don't know the interval protocol for "SDF" application and When we asked about the use of the "SDF" to arrest non-cavitated and cavitated lesions, the percentage of agreement was 41.3% and 42.9% respectively. We concluded that enhancing educational efforts regarding SDF may lead to greater acceptance of this innovative approach for managing cavitated carious lesions, particularly among pediatric patients. The most frequently reported barrier to the use of SDF was the tooth discoloration associated with caries arrest.