The Parental Concern and Acceptance of Silver Diamine Fluoride Treatment in Preschool Children: A Cross Sectional Study

Aim: Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) is a minimally invasive treatment with proven efficacy for managing early childhood caries. However, the dark staining associated with SDF treatment remains a major concern that affects parental acceptance. This study examines the level of parental acceptance of SDF treatment for preschool children in Laos and explores associated factors such as parental anxiety, previous dental experience, and demographic data. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 324 parents of children aged 2-5 years enrolled in preschools in Vientiane Capital, Laos. Participants provided demographic information, details on their children's dental history, and their own dental anxiety levels. Following a video demonstration of the effectiveness and application of SDF, parents completed a survey assessing their acceptance of and concerns about SDF using a 5-point Likert scale. Parental dental anxiety was measured with the modified dental anxiety scale. Data were analyzed using chi-square tests, independent t tests, and multiple logistic regression (P≤0.05). Results: Eighty percent of the parents accepted SDF treatment for their children. Those highly concerned about SDF staining were significantly less likely to accept it as a treatment option (P<0.01). Increased acceptance correlated with reduced concern about staining (95% confidence interval=15.57-1095.88). Additionally, 84.9% of parents reported some level of dental anxiety, with older parents showing higher acceptance of SDF. Conclusions: Parents were highly receptive of the SDF treatment for their children's primary dentition. Parents who were older tended to be less concerned about the staining, and those who had a high level of dental anxiety were more likely to accept SDF treatment.