Articles Vol. 67 No. 2 02/03/2026

EFFECTIVENESS OF 38% SILVER DIAMINE FLUORIDE IN REDUCING TOOTH SENSITIVITY AMONG ELDERLY PATIENTS AT TAN PHU GENERAL HOSPITAL: A PILOT STUDY

Tran Doan Hong To1,2, Anh Nguyen Thi Kim1,2, Quan Tran Duy3,4, Huong Nguyen Thi Nguyen5,6
1 Tan Phu General Hospital
2 Bệnh viện Đa khoa Tân Phú
3 Nguyen Tat Thanh University
4 Trường Đại học Nguyễn Tất Thành
5 University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City
6 Đại học Y Dược thành phố Hồ Chí Minh
DOI: 10.52163/yhc.v67i2.4390
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Abstract

Objectives: To preliminarily evaluate the effectiveness of 38% silver diamine fluoride (SDF) in reducing tooth sensitivity among older adults attending the Department of Dentistry, Tan Phu General Hospital, Ho Chi Minh city.

Subjects and methods: A pilot study was conducted on 70 teeth in 9 patients aged 60 years and older who presented with tooth sensitivity at the Department of Dentistry, Tan Phu General Hospital, from April to September 2024. Baseline characteristics and oral care habits were collected through interviews. Self-perceived tooth sensitivity was evaluated using the air-blast test and the VAS at baseline, 1 week after the intervention, and at the 3-month follow-up. Patient satisfaction and acceptance of silver diamine fluoride treatment were also assessed at the 3-month visit.

Results: The mean VAS score decreased significantly from 8.00 ± 1.41 at baseline to 3.44 ± 0.88 after 1 week and 2.78 ± 0.97 after 3 months (p < 0.001). The corresponding reductions in mean sensitivity scores were 55.8% at 1 week and 63.8% at 3 months. The overall patient satisfaction score was 6.89 ± 0.78. Scores for acceptance of continuing the treatment and recommending it to others were high, at 8.11 ± 0.78 and 8.00 ± 0.71, respectively.

Conclusion: 38% SDF provides rapid and sustained reduction of tooth sensitivity. It is a promising minimally invasive option for managing dentin hypersensitivity in elderly patients in Vietnam.

Keywords
SDF, dentin hypersensitivity, tooth sensitivity, elderly.
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