Clinical trial NCT03649659
Conditions: Cavities of Teeth
Sponsor: University of Michigan
Start date: 2018-10-08; Completion date: 2023-04-27
Enrollment: 830 participants; Allocation: RANDOMIZED; Intervention model: PARALLEL

Brief summary:
This trial is a Phase III, multisite, randomized, placebo-controlled trial, with two parallel groups. The groups are SDF or placebo and they are applied every 6 months. The primary hypothesis of the trial is that SDF is better than placebo for stopping cavities with dentin exposed in baby teeth when assessed at 6 months after initial application.

Detailed description:
This trial is a phase III, multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled superiority trial, with two parallel groups (placebo vs. SDF applied to cavitated lesions) involving a total of 1144 children with the primary outcome assessed at 6 months after initial treatment.

One thousand one hundred forty four children, 12-71 months of age, from early childhood education programs, such as Head Start centers, Early Head Start centers, and equivalent city/state subsidized preschool programs, or children attending dental clinics associated with the clinical trial sites, will be randomized, in two cohorts. Trial visits will occur at baseline, 3 months, 6 months, and 8 months. SDF/placebo will be applied at baseline and 6 months. Parents/legal guardians will be called 24 to 48 hours after the SDF/placebo application to assess adverse events and unanticipated problems and in-person visits for safety exams will be available for all child participants approximately 24 to 48 hours after SDF/placebo application. This visit could happen before or after the 24- to 48-hour call with the parent or legal guardian, but every attempt will be made so that the call occurs prior to the 24- to 48-hour visit. Additionally, intermediate contacts at 1.5 months, 4.5 months, and 7 months will occur to determine if the child needs an additional visit to assess pain, lesion progression, etc. and to maintain contact with the participant.

Randomization to SDF application (treatment) or placebo (control) will be at the participant-level; all teeth within a participant that meet the inclusion criteria will receive the same trial product. Both treatment and control will be dispensed from identical unit-dose ampules coded and labeled to ensure masking of all trial personnel. The number of ampules required to treat all carious lesions in the participant's mouth will be recorded. No caries removal will be performed. Teeth will be cleaned with a toothbrush and will be dried with cotton/gauze, and the solution will be painted on the dentin of each targeted cavitated lesion using a standardized applicator. Following application, the tooth will be blotted dry with gauze.

At each clinical visit International Caries Detection and Assessment System (ICDAS) examinations, including cavitated lesion hardness assessments, soft tissue assessments and questionnaires on dental discomfort, family impact and treatment satisfaction and acceptability will be collected.

Arms: arm 1: SDF will be applied to the affected teeth twice during the study. Once at screening/baseline and again at the 6-month visit. arm 2: The placebo will be applied to the affected teeth twice during the study. Once at screening/baseline and again at the 6-month visit.
Interventions: intervention 1: Silver Diamine Fluoride intervention 2: Placebo
Intervention descriptions: intervention 1: SDF will be applied twice during the study intervention 2: This is being compared to the SDF and will also be applied twice

Protocol documents:
ICF_002.pdf: 
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PHASE III RCT OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF SILVER DIAMINE FLUORIDE IN 
ARRESTING CAVITATED CARIES LESIONS 
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN 
 
CONSENT TO BE PART OF A RESEARCH STUDY 
 
TITLE: 
Phase III RCT of the Effectiveness of Silver Diamine Fluoride in 
Arresting Cavitated Caries Lesions 
 
PROTOCOL NO.: 
17-094-E 
WIRB® Protocol #20181760 
HUM00147622 
 
SPONSOR: 
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) 
 
CO-INVESTIGATORS: 
Margherita Fontana, DDS, PhD 
1011 N. University Room 2393 
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1078 
United States 
 
Carlos Gonzalez-Cabezas, DDS, MSD, PhD 
1011 N. University Ave 
CRSE Room 2395 
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1078 
United States 
 
STUDY-RELATED 
PHONE NUMBER(S): 
Carlos Gonzalez-Cabezas, DDS, MSD, PhD 
734-615-8270 
734-936-6266, extension 30685 (24 hours) 
 
INFORMATION ABOUT THIS FORM 
Your child could be eligible to take part in a research study. This form gives you and your child important 
information about the study. It describes the purpose of the study, and the risks and possible benefits of 
participating in the study. 
 
Please take time to review this information carefully. After you have finished, you should talk to the 
researchers about the study and ask them any questions you have. You may also wish to talk to others (for 
example, your friends, family, or other doctors) about your participation in this study. If you decide to 
take part in the study, you will be asked to sign this form. Before you sign this form, be sure you 
understand what the study is about, including the risks and possible benefits to you. 
 
1. GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THIS STUDY AND THE RESEARCHERS 
1.1 Study title: Phase III Randomized Clinical Trial of the Effectiveness of Silver Diamine Fluoride in 
Arresting Cavitated Caries Lesions 
 
1.2 Company or agency sponsoring the study: National Institute for of Dental and Craniofacial 
Research 
 
1.3 Names, degrees, and affiliations of the researchers conducting the study: 


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Margherita Fontana, DDS, PhD, Department of Cariology, Restorative Sciences, and Endodontics, 
University of Michigan School of Dentistry 
Carlos Gonzalez-Cabezas, DDS, PhD, Department of Cariology, Restorative Sciences, and 
Endodontics, University of Michigan School of Dentistry 
 
2. PURPOSE OF THIS STUDY 
2.1 Study purpose: The traditional treatments for cavities involve drilling teeth and placing fillings or 
removing the teeth. Drilling requires teeth to be numbed with an injection. When a young child has many 
and/or advanced cavities, the child often needs to be treated after being put to sleep. Because being put to 
sleep has risks for children, there is a need to find other ways to treat cavities in children. This study 
compares silver diamine fluoride (SDF), a medical substance, to placebo for treating cavities in baby 
teeth. Children in the study will receive either SDF or placebo painted on cavities in their baby teeth. A 
placebo is an inactive substance that looks like the study drug, but contains no medication. SDF is 
currently being used in other countries to treat cavities. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has 
approved SDF for treating sensitivity in teeth, but not for treating cavities in children. Use of SDF in this 
study is considered investigational. Comparing SDF to placebo will let us know what SDF really does to 
cavities in baby teeth, and will help us see if SDF stops cavities from progressing. 
 
3. INFORMATION ABOUT STUDY PARTICIPANTS (SUBJECTS) 
Taking part in this study is completely voluntary. You and your child do not have to participate if you 
don't want to. You may also leave the study at any time. If you do not participate, or if you leave the study 
before it is finished, there will be no penalty to you, and you will not lose any benefits to which you are 
otherwise entitled. 
 
3.1 Who can take part in this study? We are looking for children ages 1 to 5 years (12 to 71 months, up 
until the day they turn 6 years old), who have advanced cavities in at least one of their baby teeth. 
 
3.2 How many people (subjects) are expected to take part in this study? 
We expect 1,144 children and their parent/legal guardian to take part in the study across three sites: the 
University of Michigan, New York University, and the University of Iowa. 
 
4. INFORMATION ABOUT STUDY PARTICIPATION 
4.1 What will happen to my child and me in this study? 
We will identify cavities in your child’s baby teeth that can be treated. Children in this study will be 
assigned to one of two groups. We’ll use a random method (like flipping a coin) to decide which group 
your child will be in. Your child will have an equal chance of being in each group. 
 
 
Children in the first group will have SDF painted on the cavities. The SDF will be painted on 
twice: at the first visit and again at the 6-month visit. 
 
Children in the second group will have placebo painted on the cavities. The placebo will be 
painted on twice: at the first visit and again at the 6-month visit. 
 
Neither the SDF nor placebo will require drilling or numbing medicine. The cavity in the baby tooth 
could turn dark brown or black in either the SDF or placebo group. 
 
Children in both groups should continue to receive all preventive treatments normally provided to 
children with cavities. This could be through your Head Start/early childhood education center or dental 
provider (for example, fluoride varnish, fluoride toothpaste and toothbrush for home use, and instructions 
on what causes cavities and how to prevent them). Children should not receive any fluoride varnish on the 
day of SDF or placebo treatment and should not use fluoride toothpaste the evening of the treatment. 
 


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We will see you and your child again for check-up visits about three months, six months, and eight 
months after the first treatment. If your child was enrolled at school, you may not need to be present for 
the check-ups and we will call you to ask the study questions asked at these visits. We will call you about 
one and a half, four and a half, and seven months after the first visit to ask you some questions. We will 
ask you if your child has pain from cavities or if your child has had any problems after the treatment with 
SDF or placebo. We will ask about any dental care your child has received from dentists outside the 
study. 
 
We will also call you to ask some questions about 24-48 hours after we treat the cavities at the first visit 
and 6-month visit. Your child will also be seen for a check-up about 24-48 hours after the first visit and 
24-48 hours after the 6-month visit. 
 
We may also call you to schedule and remind you of appointments. 
 
At each visit, we will check your child’s teeth, and possibly take photos of your child’s teeth. Although 
the photos could appear in presentations or publications, people will not be able to identify your child. We 
will ask you to complete surveys about your child’s mouth and teeth. At each visit we will let you know 
of all cavities we find. 
 
Any of your child’s teeth that are treated in the study are considered “study teeth.” If a cavity in a study 
tooth starts to cause pain, that tooth will be removed from the study. We will give you a referral to a 
dentist for treatment for that tooth outside of the study with traditional treatment options, such as fillings 
with numbing medicine or pulling the tooth. If your child has other study teeth, we will continue to check 
those teeth during the rest of the study. At the end of the study, we will help you to get a follow-up dental 
visit set up for your child for traditional treatment that is needed at that time. Section 8 of the consent 
reviews payment for dental treatment. 
 
4.2 How much of my time will be needed to take part in this study? 
This study will require six dental visits for your child (the first visit, check-ups at 3 months, 6 months, 
and 8 months, and check-ups about 24-48 hours after the treatments at the first visit and the 6-month 
visit). The first visit will take approximately 45 minutes, with most of the time involving paperwork you 
will complete and about 10 minutes involving the exam for your child. Each check-up dental visit after 
the first visit will take approximately 10 minutes for an exam for your child, and 10 minutes for you to 
answer some questions. You may be able to complete the paperwork before the first visit and/or answer 
the questions for the check-ups over the phone or online. The check-up visits 24-48 hours after the first 
visit and 24-48 hours after the 6-month visit will take approximately 5 minutes. You will also be required 
to complete other phone surveys lasting five to ten minutes over the course of the eight months to make 
sure your child is doing well. 
 
Visits may be arranged at your child’s Head Start Center or School, at one of your local providers such as 
dental/medical clinics, or another secure location. You do not need to be present at visits if they happen 
during the Head Start or School day. 
 
4.3 When will my participation in the study be over? 
Participation is expected to end eight months after the first visit. 
 
It is possible that we’ll want to stay in contact with you and your child for longer than 8 months. We may 
also ask you to take part in other studies. At the end of this form, you can tell us if we may contact you 
about additional visits or studies. Even if you give us permission to contact you later, you don’t have to 
come for future visits or take part in other studies if you don’t want to. 
 


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5. INFORMATION ABOUT RISKS AND BENEFITS 
 
The researchers have taken steps to minimize the risks of this study. Even so, you may still have problems 
or side effects, even when the researchers are careful to avoid them. Please tell the researchers listed on 
this form about any injuries, side effects, or other problems that you have during this study. You should 
also tell your regular doctors. 
 
5.1 What risks will my child and I face by taking part in the study?  What will the researchers do to 
protect us against these risks? 
Examples of some risks related to the study include: 
 
 
The tooth cavity could turn a dark color (although many cavities are already dark in color), and 
you or your child may not like how it looks. 
 
The SDF or placebo might not prevent the cavity from getting bigger. A tooth with a cavity could 
cause pain for your child or could become infected during the study. If this happens, your child 
might need to see a dentist outside the study to receive treatment. 
 
Your child may experience a metallic or bitter taste when the solution is put on. 
 
Temporary discoloration of the gums near the treated cavity after SDF application21,.  
 
,Temporary irritation of soft tissues (e.g., redness or ulceration of the skin or mucous membranes) 
after SDF or placebo application. 
 
 
 
Possible allergic reaction or stomach problems. 
 
Sensitivity when drying the tooth for the dental exam (this risk is no greater than the risk from a 
traditional dental examination). 
 
Cross-contamination (germ-spreading; this risk is no greater than the risk from a traditional dental 
examination). 
 
You may not feel comfortable answering questions we ask. 
 
It is possible that people outside the study might find out your child participated (loss of 
confidentiality). 
 
Your child could cry during the exam. 
 
The researchers will try to minimize these risks by first ensuring that the tooth is healthy enough to 
qualify for the study treatment. We will closely monitor your child and his/her teeth after application of 
SDF/placebo, at all other study visits, and by phone. If your child's tooth becomes painful or infected, we 
will give you a referral to a dentist so your child can receive care for the tooth. Your child’s teeth will be 
dried prior to SDF/placebo application, gauze will be used to protect soft tissues and excess fluid will be 
blotted dry after application to reduce risk of gum irritation. The examiners are dentists who are trained to 
work with children. Our trained study staff will use the best infection control procedures to stop germs 
from spreading. Study records are locked in cabinets or maintained on an encrypted database, and a study 
number is assigned to you and your child. You should contact the study team (see Section 10, below), if 
you have any concerns. 
 
As with any research study, there could be additional risks that are unknown or unexpected. 
 
5.2 What happens if my child gets hurt, becomes sick, or has other problems as a result of this 
research? 
The study team has given you instructions about this research study. It is important that you follow these 
instructions carefully. If you get sick, have a medical complication, or are injured as a result of your being 
in the study, call the study doctor at the telephone number listed in the contact section of this form. The 
study doctor will either treat you or send you to another doctor for treatment.  You will get free medical 


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care for any complication, injury, or illness caused by the study drug, device, or procedure. The study 
sponsor and the study doctor are responsible for determining whether your condition was the result of 
your participation in the study.  The study sponsor will pay for your treatment only if the need for 
treatment has been caused by the study drug, device or procedure. This means that you or your health plan 
must pay for any treatment that is part of your usual medical care or that is related to a medical condition 
you had before participating in the study. 
 
By signing this form, you do not give up your right to seek payment if you are harmed as a result of being 
in this study. 
 
The researchers have taken steps to minimize the risks in this study. Even so, your child may still have 
problems or side effects, even when the researchers are careful to avoid them. Please tell the researchers 
listed in Section 10 about any injuries, side effects, or other problems that your child has during this 
study. You should also tell your regular doctors or dentists. 
 
If you believe your child has been injured as a result of this study contact the study doctor, who will help 
arrange treatment. You or your insurance company will be billed for this care. 
 
5.3 If my child and I take part in this study, can we also participate in other studies? 
Being in more than one research study at the same time, or even at different times, could increase the 
risks to you. It could also affect the results of the studies. You should not take part in more than one study 
without approval from the researchers involved in each study. 
 
5.4 How could my child and I benefit if we take part in this study? How could others benefit? 
Potential benefits to you and your child include: 
 
 
SDF may stop the cavity from progressing, decrease pain and improve quality of life. 
 
Because your child’s teeth will be examined several times during the study, you may learn early 
about problems with your child’s teeth. Children with serious dental problems will be offered an 
appointment for an unscheduled study visit and referred for dental care. 
 
The anticipated long-term benefit is that the participation of you and your child in our study could be of 
great value to the dental community and parents of young children like you if we find SDF is a good 
treatment for cavities in baby teeth. Right now, the traditional treatment your child would get at the 
dentist (not SDF) involves fillings or pulling the teeth, requiring teeth to be numbed with an injection. In 
many cases with young children who have many and/or advanced cavities, the child needs to be treated 
after being put to sleep. This has the potential to harm the child’s brain, or development, and can even 
cause death in rare cases. If SDF is proven effective, you will be helping in providing evidence about a 
cost-effective and non-invasive option as an alternative for traditional treatment for cavities in young 
children. 
 
5.5 Will the researchers tell me if they learn of new information that could change my willingness to 
stay in this study? 
Yes, the researchers will tell you if they learn of important new information that may change your 
willingness to stay in this study. If new information is provided to you after you have joined the study, it 
is possible that you may be asked to sign a new consent form that includes the new information. 


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6. OTHER OPTIONS 
6.1 If I decide not to take part in this study, what other options do I have? 
If you choose not to enroll in the study, you could decide to seek treatment for your child elsewhere. If 
you decide not to participate in the study, we recommend your child be treated for his/her cavities in a 
dental clinic of your choice. 
 
7. ENDING THE STUDY 
7.1 If I want to stop participating in the study, what should I do? 
You are free to leave the study at any time. If you leave the study before it is finished, there will be no 
penalty to you. You will not lose any benefits to which you otherwise would be entitled. If you choose to 
tell the researchers why you are leaving the study, your reasons for leaving could be kept as part of the 
study record. If you decide to leave the study before it is finished, please tell one of the persons listed in 
Section 10 “Contact Information” (below). 
 
7.2 Could there be any harm to me or my child if I decide to leave the study before it is finished?  
If you decide to leave the study prior to its completion, it is extremely important to notify the Study 
Coordinator listed in Section 10. Some of your child’s teeth could need additional treatment if they are 
not being checked regularly, and these teeth should be treated soon after exiting the study. It is important 
that your child receive dental treatment if not being closely checked by the investigators of this study. If 
you wish to exit the study, the study team can help you find a dentist. 
 
7.3 Could the researchers take my child and me out of the study even if I want to continue to 
participate? 
Yes. There are many reasons why the researchers might need to end your participation in the study. Some 
examples are: 
 
 The researcher believes that it is not in your child’s best interest to stay in the study. 
 You and/or your child become ineligible to participate. 
 Your child’s condition changes and he/she needs treatment that is not provided as part of the 
study. 
 You do not follow instructions from the researchers. 
 The study is suspended or cancelled 
 
8. FINANCIAL INFORMATION 
8.1 Who will pay for the costs of the study? Will I or my health plan be billed for any costs of the 
study? 
There are no costs for participating in this study. At the end of the study, or if a study tooth is removed 
from the study because it is decided it needs a different treatment, and you go and get the treatment, you 
and/or your health plan will be billed for all the things you would have been responsible to pay for if you 
were not in the study, like: 
 
 
X-rays, 
 
Fillings, and 
 
Extractions. 
 
The study team has given you instructions about this research study. It is important that you follow these 
instructions carefully. If you get sick, have a medical complication, or are injured as a result of your being 
in the study, call Dr. Gonzalez immediately, at 734-763-3391. The doctor will either treat you or send you 
to another doctor for treatment. 
 


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You will get free medical care at the University of Michigan Health System (UMHS) in Ann Arbor, MI 
for any hospitalization or ER visits directly caused by the study drug, device, or procedure. The UMHS 
and the study doctor are responsible for determining whether your condition was the result of your 
participation in the study. 
 
The UMHS will pay for your treatment only if the need for treatment has been caused by the study drug, 
device or procedure. This means that you or your health plan must pay for any treatment that is part of 
your usual medical care or that is related to a medical condition you had before participating in the study. 
 
It is not the policy of the federal funding agencies to compensate or provide medical treatment for human 
subjects in federally funded studies. 
 
By signing this form, you do not give up your right to seek payment if you are harmed as a result of being 
in this study. 
 
8.2 Will I be paid or given anything for taking part in this study? 
Yes. For completing both the dental exam and parent questionnaires, the parent/legal guardian will 
receive $125 ($100 for completing the in person visit and $25 for completing the study questionnaires) for 
each of the four main study visits (first visit, and 3, 6 and 8 month visits or withdrawal visit). Also, the 
parent/legal guardian will be paid $25 for completing each of the three phone surveys (at 1.5, 4.5, and 7 
months). For participation in the two in person 24- to 48-hour visits (after the first visit and 6 month visit) 
participants will receive $25 for each. 
 
If we need to see your child for an unplanned visit, up to $30 may be provided for transportation/parking 
to attend those visits. 
 
During the study, if a tooth that the study is treating needs additional treatment from a dentist outside the 
study, and if you provide us proper receipts for the care of that study tooth within 6 months after the study 
tooth is withdrawn from the study, you can receive up to $250 to cover treatment costs. 
 
No payment will be provided for scheduling/reminder phone calls/contacts. Your child will also be given 
a small gift (valued less than $3) after each study visit, along with a toothbrush and toothpaste. 
 
In order to pay you for your participation, we need to collect your name, address and social security 
number or taxpayer identification number. 
 
8.3 Who could profit or financially benefit from the study results? 
The investigators who conduct this study will not profit or financially benefit from the study results. The 
companies who manufacture the SDF may benefit financially. Those companies are not directly 
associated with this study, but the results of this study could help these companies get permission from 
the FDA to market SDF for treatment of cavities, if it is proven to work in this study. 
 
9. CONFIDENTIALITY OF SUBJECT RECORDS AND AUTHORIZATION TO RELEASE 
YOUR PROTECTED HEALTH INFORMATION 
The information below describes how your privacy and the confidentiality of your research records will 
be protected in this study. 
 
9.1 How will the researchers protect my child’s and my privacy? 
After treatment and each follow-up visit is completed, the information for the teeth treated will be 
recorded in a secure database that does not contain your or your child’s personal information, such as 


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name, address, and Social Security number. All records are placed in a secure location, and no study 
photographs will contain identifying information. 
 
9.2 What information about my child or me could be seen by the researchers or by other people?  
Why? Who might see it? 
Signing this form gives the researchers your permission to obtain, use, and share information about you 
and your child for this study, and is required in order for you and your child to take part in the study. 
Information about your child may be obtained from any hospital, doctor, and other health care provider 
involved in your child’s care, including: 
 
 
Health plan/health insurance records; Dental plan/dental insurance records 
 
Any records relating to your child’s condition, the treatment received, and response to the 
treatment 
 
Billing information 
 
Personal identifiers 
 
There are many reasons why information about you and your child may be used or seen by the researchers 
or others during or after this study. Examples include: 
 
 
The researchers may need the information to check your child’s exam results or look for side 
effects to report if your child has had any problems. 
 
University, the Institutional Review Board (IRB), Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and/or 
other government officials may need the information to make sure that the study is done in a safe 
and proper manner. 
 
Study sponsors or funders, or safety monitors or committees, may need the information to:  
o Make sure the study is done safely and properly, 
o Learn more about side effects, and 
o Analyze the results of the study. 
 
Insurance companies or other organizations may need the information in order to pay your 
medical bills or other costs of your participation in the study. 
 
The researchers may need to use the information to create a databank of information about your 
condition or its treatment. 
 
Information about your study participation may be included in your School of Dentistry 
electronic health record. 
 
If you receive any payments for taking part in this study, the accounting department from the 
University of Michigan may need your name, address, social security number or taxpayer 
identification number, payment amount, and related information for tax reporting purposes. 
 
Federal or State law may require the study team to give health information to agencies, for 
example, to prevent harm to you or others, or for public health reasons. 
 
The results of this study could be published in an article, but would not include any information that 
would let others know who you are or that you participated. 
 
A description of this clinical trial will be available on http://www.ClinicalTrials.gov, as required by U.S. 
Law. This Web site will not include information that can identify you. At most, the Web site will include 
a summary of the results. You can search this Web site at any time. 
 
University of Michigan policies require that private information about you be protected. This is especially 
true for your personal health information.   
 


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As long as your information is kept within the University of Michigan Health System, it is protected by 
the Health System’s privacy policies.  For more information about these policies, ask for a copy of the 
University of Michigan “Notice of Privacy Practices”.  This information is also available on the web at 
http://www.uofmhealth.org/patient+and+visitor+guide/hipaa. Note that once your information has been 
shared with others as described earlier it may no longer be protected by the privacy regulations of the 
federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) and may be redisclosed 
without your permission.   
 
9.3 What happens to information about me after the study is over or if I cancel my permission? 
As a rule, the researchers will not continue to use or disclose information about you, but will keep it 
secure until it is destroyed. Sometimes, it may be necessary for information about you to continue to be 
used or disclosed, even after you have canceled your permission or the study is over. 
 
Examples of reasons for this include: 
 
 
To avoid losing study results that have already included your and your child’s information. 
 
To provide limited information for research, education, or other activities (This information 
would not include your or your child’s name, social security number, or anything else that could 
let others know who you or your child are). 
 
To help University and government officials make sure that the study was conducted properly. 
 
If you are concerned about a possible violation of your privacy or concerned about a study you may 
contact the University of Michigan Health System Compliance Help Line at 1-866-990-0111. 
 
Your permission will not expire unless you cancel it. You may cancel your permission at any time by 
writing to the researchers listed on the first page of this form. 
 
As long as your information is kept within the University Health System, it is protected by the 
University’s Health System’s privacy policies. For more information about these policies, ask for a copy 
of the University’s “Notice of Privacy Practices”.  This information is also available on the web at 
http://www.uofmhealth.org/patient+and+visitor+guide/hipaa.  Note that once your information has been 
shared with others as described under Question 9.2, it may no longer be protected by the privacy 
regulations of the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) and may 
be further shared without your permission. 
 
9.4 When does my permission expire? 
Your permission expires at the end of the study, unless you cancel it sooner. You may cancel your 
permission at any time by writing to the researchers listed in Section 10 "Contact Information" (below). If 
you cancel your permission no new information will be collected about your child. 
 
10. CONTACT INFORMATION 
10.1 Who can I contact about this study? 
Please contact the researchers listed below to: 
 
 
Obtain more information about the study. 
 
Ask a question about the study procedures or treatments. 
 
Talk about study-related costs to you or your health plan. 
 
Report problems with study payments. 
 
Report an illness, injury, or other problem (you may also need to tell your regular doctors). 


IRB APPROVED 
AS MODIFIED 
May 28, 2019 
 
 
Page 10 of 12 
Consent Subtitle: Main Consent 
 
Consent Version: Version.3.0 
 
Leave the study before it is finished. 
 
Express a concern or complaint about the study. 
 
University of Michigan Contact: Carlos Gonzalez, DDS, MSD, PhD 
Mailing Address: 1011 N University Ave; CRSE Rm 2393; Ann Arbor, MI 48109 
Telephone: 734-615-8270 or 734-936-6266, extension 30685 (24 hours) 
Email: michigansdf@umich.edu 
 
You may also express questions, concerns or complaints about a study, or if you have questions about 
your rights as a research subject by contacting the Institutional Review Board listed below 
 
Western Institutional Review Board® (WIRB®) 
1019 39th Avenue SE Suite 120 
Puyallup, Washington  98374-2115 
Telephone:  1-800-562-4789 or 360-252-2500 
E-mail:  Help@wirb.com 
 
An IRB is a group of people who perform independent review of research studies. 
 
If you are concerned about a possible violation of your privacy or concerned about a study you may 
contact the University of Michigan Health System Compliance Help Line at 1-866-990-0111. 
 
When you call or write about a concern, please provide as much information as possible, including the 
name of the researcher, the IRBMED number (number that begins HUM that is located at the top or 
bottom of this form), and details about the problem. This will help University officials to look into your 
concern. When reporting a concern, you do not have to give your name unless you want to. 
 
11. RECORD OF INFORMATION PROVIDED 
11.1 What documents will be given to me? 
Your signature in the next section means that you have received copies of all of the following documents: 
 
 
This "Consent to be Part of a Research Study" document.  (Note: In addition to the copy you 
receive, copies of this document will be stored in a separate confidential research file and may be 
entered into your regular University medical record.) 


IRB APPROVED 
AS MODIFIED 
May 28, 2019 
 
 
Page 11 of 12 
Consent Subtitle: Main Consent 
 
Consent Version: Version.3.0 
 
12. SIGNATURES 
 
 
 
 
Extra visits (optional): 
We may want to start a new follow-up study in the future. If we do, please let us know if you would 
allow us to contact you. 
 
Please check one: 
 
⧠ Yes, I am willing to be contacted if another study starts 
⧠ No, I am not willing to be contacted if another study starts 
 
Initials_______  Date____________ 
Consent/Assent to Participate in the Research Study 
Assent of children is NOT required because the capability of all subjects will be so limited that they 
cannot reasonably be consulted. 
 
I understand the information printed on this form.  I have discussed this study, its risks and potential 
benefits, and my other choices with ______________________________.  My questions so far have 
been answered. I understand that if I have more questions or concerns about the study or my and my 
child’s participation as research subjects, I may contact one of the people listed in Section 10 (above). I 
understand that I will receive a copy of this form at the time I sign it and later upon request.  
 
 
Child’s Legal Name: ________________________________________________________________ 
 
 
Parent/Legal Guardian’s Name: ________________________________________________________ 
 
 
Signature: _________________________________________________________________________ 
 
 
Date of Signature (mm/dd/yy): ________________________ 


IRB APPROVED 
AS MODIFIED 
May 28, 2019 
 
 
Page 12 of 12 
Consent Subtitle: Main Consent 
 
Consent Version: Version.3.0 
 
 
Principal Investigator or Designee 
 
I have provided this participant with information about this study that I believe to be accurate and 
complete.  The participant indicated that he or she understands the nature of the study, including risks 
and benefits of participating. 
 
 
Legal Name: _______________________________________________________________________ 
 
 
Title: _____________________________________________________________________________ 
 
 
Signature: _________________________________________________________________________ 
 
 
Date of Signature (mm/dd/yy): ________________________ 

SAP_003.pdf: 
 
Page 1 of 29 
 
Advantage Silver Dental Arrest, LLC Confidential: This document shall not be modified, saved, copied, or reproduced by any 
unauthorized person. 
 
Statistical Analysis Plan 
 
Phase III RCT of the Effectiveness of Silver Diamine Fluoride in Arresting 
Cavitated Caries Lesions 
 
Protocol Number: 
 
17-094-E 
Protocol Version: 
(Version Date) 
Version 3.1 
16 April 2019 
Investigational Product: 
Silver diamine fluoride, 38% 
Phase: 
III 
Methodology: 
Multicenter, Randomized, Masked, Placebo-controlled 
Trial Funder: 
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) 
NIDCR Grant Number: 
U01DE027372 
IND Sponsor: 
Advantage Silver Dental Arrest, LLC 
PO Box 12746 
Salem, OR 97309-0746 
Sponsor Representative: 
Peter Milgrom, DDS 
Emeritus Professor of Oral Health Sciences, School of Dentistry, 
University of Washington, Seattle 
Managing Member, Advantage Silver Dental Arrest, LLC  
Document Date: 
September 23, 2024 
Document Version: 
Final 3.0 
Document Authors: 
George J. Eckert, MAS 
Biostatistician Supervisor 
Department of Biostatistics and Health Data Science 
Indiana University School of Medicine 
 
 
 


 
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unauthorized person. 
TABLE OF CONTENTS 
 
TABLE OF CONTENTS ............................................................................................................................ 2 
STATISTICAL ANALYSIS PLAN: VERSION HISTORY .................................................................... 5 
ABBREVIATIONS ..................................................................................................................................... 6 
1. 
INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................... 7 
2. 
OVERALL STUDY DESIGN AND PLAN ...................................................................................... 8 
3. 
TRIAL OBJECTIVES AND OUTCOME MEASURES ................................................................. 9 
3.1. 
Primary Outcome Measure ........................................................................................................... 9 
3.2. 
Secondary Outcome Measures ...................................................................................................... 9 
3.3. 
Tertiary Outcome Measures ........................................................................................................ 10 
3.4. 
Safety Outcome Measures .......................................................................................................... 10 
4. 
SAMPLE SIZE .................................................................................................................................. 11 
5. 
RANDOMIZATION ......................................................................................................................... 12 
6. 
PLANNED ANALYSES ................................................................................................................... 13 
6.1. 
Statistical Comparisons ............................................................................................................... 13 
6.2. 
Analysis Populations ................................................................................................................... 13 
6.2.1. 
Intent-to-Treat (ITT) Population ......................................................................................... 13 
6.2.2. 
Per Protocol (PP) Population .............................................................................................. 13 
6.2.3. 
Safety Population ................................................................................................................ 13 
6.2.4. 
Intent-to-Treat Population #2 (ITT2) - Interim Participants ............................................... 13 
6.2.5. 
Per Protocol Population #2 (PP2) - Interim Participants..................................................... 14 
6.3. 
Global Conventions and Definitions ........................................................................................... 14 
6.3.1. 
Computing ........................................................................................................................... 14 
6.3.2. 
General Statistical Methods ................................................................................................ 14 
6.3.3. 
Listing Conventions ............................................................................................................ 14 
6.3.4. 
Table Conventions .............................................................................................................. 14 
6.3.5. 
Baseline and Study Day ...................................................................................................... 15 
6.3.6. 
Conventions for Missing or Partial Dates ........................................................................... 15 
6.4. 
Visit Windows ............................................................................................................................ 16 
6.4.1. 
Visit and Intermediate Contact Windows ........................................................................... 16 
6.4.2. 
3-Month, 6-Month, and 8-Month Contacts During COVID-19 Pandemic ......................... 16 
6.5. 
Participant Disposition ................................................................................................................ 16 
6.6. 
Protocol Deviations ..................................................................................................................... 17 
6.7. 
Demographic and Baseline Characteristics ................................................................................. 17 
6.8. 
Medical History .......................................................................................................................... 19 


 
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6.9. 
Prior and Concomitant Medications ........................................................................................... 19 
6.10. Exposure ..................................................................................................................................... 19 
6.11. Efficacy Analyses ....................................................................................................................... 19 
6.11.1. 
Primary Efficacy Hypothesis, Endpoint, and Analysis ....................................................... 20 
6.11.2. 
Primary Outcome Estimand ................................................................................................ 20 
6.11.3. 
Primary Efficacy Endpoint: Sensitivity Analyses ............................................................... 21 
6.11.4. 
Secondary Efficacy Hypotheses, Endpoints, and Analyses ................................................ 22 
6.11.5. 
Tertiary Efficacy Hypotheses, Endpoints, and Analyses .................................................... 23 
6.12. Safety Analysis ........................................................................................................................... 23 
6.12.1. 
Adverse Events ................................................................................................................... 23 
6.13. Subgroup Analyses for Efficacy & Safety .................................................................................. 24 
7. 
DATA SAFETY MONITORING BOARD ..................................................................................... 25 
8. 
INTERIM ANALYSIS ..................................................................................................................... 26 
9. 
CHANGES TO PLANNED PROTOCOL ANALYSES ................................................................ 27 
10. REFERENCES .................................................................................................................................. 28 
11. TABLES, FIGURES AND LISTING SHELLS ............................................................................. 29 


 
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unauthorized person. 
Author:  
 
 
Author Signature 
 
George J. Eckert, MAS 
Biostatistician Supervisor 
Department of Biostatistics and Health Data Science 
Indiana University School of Medicine 
 
 
 
 
 
23SEP2024 
 
 
Approvals: 
 
IND Sponsor: Advantage Silver Dental Arrest, LLC 
 
Approval Signature 
 
Peter Milgrom, DDS 
Emeritus Professor of Oral Health Sciences, School of 
Dentistry, University of Washington, Seattle 
Managing Member, Advantage Silver Dental Arrest, LLC 
Sept 24, 2024 
 
Principal Investigator 
 
Approval Signature 
 
Margherita Fontana, DDS, PhD 
Professor 
Department of Cariology, Restorative Sciences & 
Endodontics University of Michigan School of Dentistry 
Sept 24, 2024 
 
 


 
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STATISTICAL ANALYSIS PLAN: VERSION HISTORY 
Version # 
Description of Changes 
Version Date 
Final Version 1.0 
N/A 
01 MAR 2024 
Final Version 2.0 
Updates include: 
1. Reformatted to a new template. 
2. Added safety population. 
3. Included details on safety analyses. 
4. Added testing strategy for key secondary endpoints. 
5. Added minor additional details for efficacy analyses 
and included estimand framework. 
24 APR 2024 
Final Version 3.0 
Updates include: 
1. Added ITT2 and PP2 analysis populations (FDA 
request from pre-NDA meeting). 
2. Added subgroup analyses for efficacy and safety 
(FDA request from pre-NDA meeting). 
3. Methods for handling missing data was moved from 
Section 6.11.1 focused on the primary endpoint to 
higher level Section 6.11 to cover additional endpoints 
beyond primary. 
23 SEP 2024 
 
 
 


 
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ABBREVIATIONS 
Abbreviation 
Definition 
AE 
Adverse Event 
ANCOVA 
Analysis of Covariance 
CSR 
Clinical Study Report 
DDQ 
Dental Discomfort Questionnaire 
dmfs 
decayed, missing, and filled surfaces 
DSMB 
Data Safety Monitoring Board 
ECC 
Early Childhood Carries 
eCRF 
Electronic case report form 
FCS 
Fully Conditional Specification 
FDA 
Food and Drug Administration 
FIS 
Family Impact Scale 
GEE 
Generalized Estimating Equation 
ICDAS 
International Caries Detection and Assessment System 
IE 
Intercurrent Event 
ITT 
Intent-to-Treat 
MAR 
Missing at Random 
MedDRA 
Medical Dictionary for Regulatory Activities 
MNAR 
Missing Not at Random 
NIDCR 
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research 
OHRQoL 
Oral Health-Related Quality of Life 
P-CPQ 
Parental-Caregiver Perception Questionnaire 
P-CPQ EW 
Parental-Caregiver Perception Questionnaire Emotional Well-Being 
P-CPQ FL 
Parental-Caregiver Perception Questionnaire Functional Limitations 
P-CPQ SW 
Parental-Caregiver Perception Questionnaire Social Well-Being 
PP 
Per protocol 
PT 
Preferred Term 
SAE 
Serious adverse event 
SAP 
Statistical Analysis Plan 
SD 
Standard Deviation 
SDF 
Silver Diamine Fluoride 
S-ECC 
Severe-Early Childhood Caries 
SOC 
System Organ Class 
TEAE 
Treatment Emergent Adverse Event 
TFL 
Tables, Figures, Listings 
UP 
Unanticipated Problem 
 
 


1.
INTRODUCTION
There are large disparities in the access to and effectiveness of many available preventive 
strategies for Severe-Early Childhood Caries (S-ECC) and Early Childhood Caries (ECC), two 
of the disease presentations for dental caries in children, one of the most common chronic 
diseases of childhood. This inequity frequently results in progression of dental disease in higher 
risk groups to an advanced stage, during which cavitated carious lesions and/or pulpal infections 
develop. When primary prevention fails or is not accessible, effective treatments that are safe, 
simple, low-cost, and acceptable to patients are necessary to decrease disease morbidity. 
The product, 38% percent Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF; also known as Diamine Silver 
Fluoride- DSF) is a potentially safe, non-invasive, quick, simple to use agent that will be tested 
in this trial for its ability to arrest cavitated lesions with exposed dentin in primary teeth 
[Chu et al., 2002; Llodra et al., 2005; Tan et al., 2010; Liu et al., 2012]. SDF has been used since 
the 1970s in Asia as a caries arresting and anti-hypersensitivity agent, and in 2014 SDF was 
cleared by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a medical device to manage 
hypersensitive teeth in adults. SDF is currently marketed in the United States as Advantage 
ArrestTM, an FDA approved device to manage dentin hypersensitivity in adults. The effectiveness 
of SDF will be compared to a placebo for arrest of cavitated lesions with dentin exposed in 
primary teeth, an off-label use of the current FDA premarket clearance for SDF. 
The primary aim of this trial is to assess the efficacy of 38% SDF applied once, to arrest 
cavitated lesions (caries lesions with cavities that expose dentin clinically, but with no pulp 
exposure, pain, mobility, or clinical signs of pulpal infection) in the primary dentition (assessed 
using the International Caries Detection and Assessment System-ICDAS II activity criteria) at 
6-month follow-up.
This statistical analysis plan (SAP) document details the planned statistical analyses to answer 
the study objective(s) for Study 17-094-E. The proposed analyses are based on the contents of 
protocol v3.1 (dated 16 April 2019). Populations for analysis, data handling rules, statistical 
methods, and formats for data presentation are provided. The statistical analyses and summary 
tabulation described in this SAP will provide the basis for the results sections of the Clinical 
Study Report (CSR) for this study. 
Page 7 of 29 
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unauthorized person. 
2. 
OVERALL STUDY DESIGN AND PLAN 
This trial is a Phase III, multisite, randomized, placebo-controlled superiority trial, with two 
parallel groups: SDF and placebo, applied at baseline and at approximately 6 months. The 
primary hypothesis of the trial is that 38% SDF is superior to placebo for arresting cavitated 
caries lesions with dentin exposed in primary teeth when assessed approximately 6 months after 
initial application. 
An interim analysis will be performed, where the trial may be stopped early if interim analysis 
results provide early determination of efficacy or futility. Further details are described in 
Section 8. 
 
 


 
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3. 
TRIAL OBJECTIVES AND OUTCOME MEASURES 
The trial objectives are as follows: 
• Aim 1: The primary aim of this trial is to assess the efficacy of 38% SDF applied once, to 
arrest cavitated lesions (caries lesions with cavities that expose dentin clinically, but with 
no pulp exposure, pain, mobility, or clinical signs of pulpal infection) in the primary 
dentition (assessed using the International Caries Detection and Assessment System-
ICDAS II activity criteria, Appendix A) at 6-month follow-up. 
• Aim 2: The first secondary aim is to assess the efficacy of 38% SDF applied twice, 
approximately 6 months apart, to arrest cavitated lesions in the primary dentition at 
approximately 8 months after initial application. A comparison of the effect of one 
application will be assessed over time at 3- and 6-month follow-ups (Sub-Aim 2a). 
• Aim 3: The next secondary aim is to assess the impact of 38% SDF applied twice, 
approximately 6 months apart, on pain in children through use of the Dental Discomfort 
Questionnaire. The impact of 38% SDF on pain after a single application will be assessed 
at approximately 3 and 6 months (Sub-Aim 3a). 
• Aim 4: The tertiary aim is to assess the effect of 38% SDF applied once (assessed at 
approximately 6 months after initial application) and twice, approximately 6 months apart 
(assessed at approximately 8 months after initial application), on family-level outcomes, 
assessing the impact on oral health-related quality of life (Sub-Aim 4a), and on treatment 
satisfaction and acceptability (e.g., associated with the change in color of treated lesions, 
etc.; Sub-Aim 4b). The relationship between treatment satisfaction/acceptability and 
other factors (e.g., family experience with ECC, oral hygiene and dietary habits) will be 
evaluated. 
Additionally, safety will be assessed. 
3.1. 
Primary Outcome Measure 
The following primary efficacy outcome will be assessed: 
• Efficacy of 38% SDF to arrest Cavitated Caries Lesions (Aim 1): Lesion arrest will be 
assessed for all cavitated lesions in the mouth (whether included or not in the trial, to 
reduce bias) using the ICDAS II system activity criteria, which categorizes lesion activity 
for ICDAS scores 5-6 based on dentin hardness [i.e., arrested lesions will change over 
time from soft-included in the trial at baseline- to hard, without an increase in ICDAS 
severity score (see Protocol Appendix A)]. The primary outcome will be the proportion 
of arrested trial lesions per child in each treatment arm. For the purposes of testing the 
hypothesis, the primary outcome will be measured at about 6 months post initial 
treatment (Aim 1). 
3.2. 
Secondary Outcome Measures 
The following secondary outcomes associated with application of 38% SDF will be assessed (key 
secondary endpoints to be tested in a secondary endpoint hierarchical strategy as described in 
Section 6.11.4 are italicized): 


 
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• Efficacy of 38% SDF to arrest Cavitated Caries Lesions when applied twice, 
approximately 6 months apart: lesion arrest will be measured at approximately 8 months 
post initial treatment to assess efficacy (Aim 2). Compare (Sub-Aim 2a) the effect of one 
application of SDF measured at approximately 3 and 6 months post initial treatment. 
• Child’s Pain (Aim 3): The pain outcome will be defined as the proportion of children in 
each treatment arm experiencing toothache pain. Additional pain outcomes will be the 
number of episodes of pain associated with treated teeth for each child in each arm during 
the follow-up period and the average recorded pain score for children in each treatment 
arm. The presence of pain associated with a trial tooth will be defined as a score of 1 or 
higher using the Dental Discomfort Questionnaire (DDQ; See Protocol Appendix B and 
Section 8), which a trial examiner can associate with a trial tooth during a clinical visit. 
The number of pain episodes is the total of all in-person visits at which a DDQ score of 1 
or higher is confirmed by the trial examiner to be associated with a trial tooth. The pain 
score will be calculated using the DDQ. 
3.3. 
Tertiary Outcome Measures 
The following tertiary outcomes associated with the effect of 38% SDF on the Family will be 
assessed: 
• Oral Health-Related Quality of Life (OHRQoL): OHRQoL will be assessed at baseline, 
3-, 6-, and 8-month visits. Parents/legal guardians will be asked to complete the 16-item 
Parental-Caregiver Perception Questionnaire (P-CPQ) and 8-item Family Impact Scale 
(FIS) questionnaire (See Protocol Appendix C). The P-CPQ and FIS total and subscale 
scores are computed by summing the scores. 
• Treatment Satisfaction and Acceptability: This will be assessed at baseline/24-48 hour 
contact/visit, and 3-, 6-, and 8-month visits using the questionnaire labeled as Family 
Survey (See Protocol Appendix D). Parents/legal guardians in each treatment arm will be 
asked about their level of satisfaction with the appearance of their children’s teeth, and 
their overall level of acceptance and satisfaction with the treatment received. They will 
also be asked about their family experiences with ECC, as well as the child’s brushing 
and dietary habits, and these items will be correlated with acceptability and satisfaction 
(e.g., adults having prior experience with the consequences of ECC and associated stress 
might be more accepting of this treatment alternative). In addition, color of treated 
lesions will be determined (yellow, brown, black), not as a primary indicator of lesion 
activity, but the change in color over time will be used for both trial arms as a measure of 
consequences associated with treatment assessed in the satisfaction questionnaire. 
3.4. 
Safety Outcome Measures 
Safety will be assessed through adverse events (AEs). AEs will be monitored throughout the 
trial. All AEs, serious adverse events (SAEs), and unanticipated problems (UPs) will be captured 
any time after informed consent is obtained. In addition, all AEs will be captured until 7 days 
after the last day of trial participation. Serious adverse events will be captured until 30 days after 
trial participation. 
 
 


 
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4. 
SAMPLE SIZE 
The population will be children 12-71 months of age at the baseline caries examination attending 
early childhood education programs or recruited from clinics associated with the Michigan, Iowa 
or New York clinical trial sites. 
The primary outcome of this trial is the proportion of arrested caries lesions approximately 
6 months from the baseline visit (i.e., lesions that have changed from soft to hard over the trial 
period according to the ICDAS II activity criteria). A 10% difference in the proportion of 
arrested caries lesions between the SDF and placebo groups will be considered clinically 
significant. Prior studies in the literature of SDF using this outcome in primary cavitated lesions 
have shown a wide range for the proportion of arrested caries lesions for both SDF-treated and 
placebo-treated or untreated lesions; therefore the 10% difference in proportions was calculated 
assuming 55% versus 45% arrested caries lesions for SDF compared to placebo. In prior studies, 
an average of 4 lesions was treated per participant, with a within-participant correlation of 0.5; 
we are conservatively assuming 3 lesions per participant. The sample size calculations used a 
2-sided test for a difference in proportions with cluster randomization (participant as the cluster) 
at significance level α=0.1%, with 80% power to detect a superiority difference of 10% for SDF 
compared to placebo. The calculations also account for the use of an early stopping rule for 
efficacy and futility. The interim analysis will be performed after approximately half of the 
sample has completed the 6-month examinations. A Lan-Demets spending function with an 
O’Brien-Fleming type boundary will be used, with p-values for efficacy at 0.000001709 and 
0.00099938 at 50% and 100% completion, respectively. Non-binding p-values for stopping due 
to futility at 50% and 100% completion will be 0.2336928 and 0.00099938, respectively. With 
the above assumptions, the trial will require 1144 participants to be enrolled. Sample size 
calculations were made using East version 6. 
 
 
 


 
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5. 
RANDOMIZATION 
Randomization will be allocated to SDF/Placebo in a 1:1 fashion and will be stratified by site. 
Randomization to 38% SDF application (treatment) or placebo (control) will be at the 
participant-level; all teeth within a participant will receive the same trial product. Both treatment 
and control will be dispensed from identical unit-dose ampules coded and labelled to ensure 
masking of all trial personnel. Randomization will occur after the baseline ICDAS exam is 
completed and it is verified that the child has eligible trial teeth. 
The randomization schedule will be generated by a designated unmasked biostatistician. The 
Project Biostatistician will remain masked to the trial randomization until after database lock and 
unblinding. 
Additional details can be found in the study Randomization Plan. 
 
 


 
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6. 
PLANNED ANALYSES 
No SAP prepared in advance of the data can be definitive, and the final CSR may contain 
additional tables or statistical tests, if warranted by the data obtained. The justification for any 
such additional analyses, or modifications to any planned analyses, if applicable, will be fully 
documented in the final CSR. 
6.1. 
Statistical Comparisons 
All statistical comparisons will be made using a two-sided test. The interim and final analyses 
will be conducted using p-value thresholds of 0.000001709 and 0.00099938, respectively, for the 
primary analysis. The overall type I error for interim and final primary endpoint analysis is two-
sided α=0.1%. 
6.2. 
Analysis Populations 
There are 5 analysis populations as described in the following sections. Participants excluded 
from the analysis populations and the reason for their exclusion will be listed in Appendix 16.2 
of the CSR. 
6.2.1. Intent-to-Treat (ITT) Population 
The ITT Population will include all participants who are randomized to receive study drug. 
Participants will be summarized according to their randomized treatment and not the treatment 
they receive. The ITT Population will be used for efficacy analyses. 
6.2.2. Per Protocol (PP) Population 
The PP Population will be limited to subjects who complete the baseline, 3-month, and 6-month 
dental examinations within the originally-specified windows. The PP Population will be used for 
supportive analyses of efficacy. 
6.2.3. Safety Population 
All participants who are treated with any amount of SDF will be included in the Safety 
Population. Participants will be summarized according to the treatment they received. Safety 
analyses will be conducted using the Safety Population. 
6.2.4. Intent-to-Treat Population #2 (ITT2) - Interim Participants 
The ITT2 Population will include all participants randomized to receive study drug and included 
in the interim analysis. Participants will be summarized according to their randomized treatment 
and not the treatment they receive. The ITT2 Population will be used for efficacy analyses. 


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6.2.5. Per Protocol Population #2 (PP2) - Interim Participants 
The PP2 Population will be limited to subjects included in the interim analysis who complete the 
baseline, 3-month, and 6-month dental examinations within the originally-specified windows. 
The PP2 Population will be used for supportive analyses of efficacy. 
6.3. 
Global Conventions and Definitions 
6.3.1. Computing 
All data listings, summaries, figures, and statistical analyses will be generated using SAS 
version 9.4 or higher (SAS Institute, Cary, NC). 
6.3.2. General Statistical Methods 
For continuous variables, the number of non-missing observations, mean, standard deviation 
(SD), median, and minimum and maximum values will be presented. The minimum and 
maximum values will be presented with the same precision as the data. The mean and median 
will be presented with a precision of one decimal place more than the data. The standard 
deviation will be presented with a precision of two decimal places more than the data. 
For categorical variables, the number/frequency and percentage within each category of the 
parameter will be presented. For each parameter, all categories will be shown, and for categories 
with a number/frequency of zero (0), only the number, without percentage, will be presented. 
Percentages will be presented with one decimal place. 
6.3.3. Listing Conventions 
In general, listings will be sorted in the following order: 
•
Treatment
•
Participant
•
Parameter
•
Study Day
All data collected on the eCRFs will be presented in the data listings. 
6.3.4. Table Conventions 
In general, summaries of the data will be presented by treatment group with the treatment group 
labels displayed as follows in the table outputs: 
SDF 
(N=XX) 
Control 
(N=XX) 


 
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There is one exception, whereby baseline tables will additionally include an “Overall” column, 
i.e., SDF and Control combined: 
SDF 
(N=XX) 
Control 
(N=XX) 
Overall 
(N=XX) 
 
6.3.5. Baseline and Study Day 
Baseline values will be defined as the last available non-missing result prior to SDF 
administration. Assessments carried out on the day of first study drug administration (SDF 
application) are considered to have taken place before the SDF application if the corresponding 
times have not been recorded. 
Study day will be calculated as the number of days from first SDF administration. 
For events/assessments on or after study drug (SDF) administration: 
• Study day = date of event (or date of assessment) – date of first SDF administration + 1. 
For events/assessments before study drug (SDF) administration: 
• Study day = date of event (or date of assessment) – date of first SDF administration. 
6.3.6. Conventions for Missing or Partial Dates 
In the rare case that an AE start date or time is missing, and it is unclear whether the AE is 
treatment emergent or not, then a conservative approach will be taken, and it will be assumed 
that the AE occurred after study drug administration. 
If a prior or concomitant medication end date or time is missing and it is unclear whether the 
medication is prior or concomitant, then a conservative approach will be taken, and it will be 
assumed that the medication was taken on or after study drug administration. 
If a medical condition end date or time is missing and it is unclear whether the medical condition 
is previous or ongoing, then a conservative approach will be taken, and it will be assumed that 
the medical condition was still active on or after study drug administration. 
Where the Date of Birth is missing, the following convention will be used: 
• Where the day is missing and month and year are available, the day will be completed as 
the 15th. For example, Date of Birth specified as --JAN1980 will be completed as 
15JAN1980. 
• If the day and month are missing and the year is available, the day and month will be 
completed as 02JUL (the 183rd day of the year). For example, Date of Birth specified 
as -----1980 will be completed as 02JUL1980. 
All dates presented in the individual participant listings will be as recorded on the Electronic 
Case Report Form (eCRF). 


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6.4. 
Visit Windows 
6.4.1. Visit and Intermediate Contact Windows 
Visit and intermediate contact windows as initially defined in the protocol are: +/- 19 days for 
the 3-month in-person visit (71-110 days post-baseline), 6-month in-person visit (161-201 days 
post-baseline), and 8-month in-person visit (221-262 days post-baseline); +/- 10 days for the 
1.5-month telephone-based intermediate contact (35-55 days post-baseline), 4.5-month 
telephone-based intermediate contact (125-146 days post-baseline), and 7-month telephone-
based intermediate contact (200-222 days post-baseline). 
6.4.2. 3-Month, 6-Month, and 8-Month Contacts During COVID-19 Pandemic 
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and associated illnesses, precautions, and shutdowns, some 
study subjects were unable to be seen for in-person visits within the study windows. To maintain 
contact with the subjects and ensure data were collected when possible, phone contacts occurred 
within the windows of the 3-month, 6-month, and 8-month visits. Although the dental 
examinations could not take place during these contacts, the questionnaire-based responses could 
be collected (DDQ, P-CPQ, FIS, Treatment Satisfaction and Acceptability). A subject may have 
two sets of data for the same ‘visit’ if an in-person visit subsequently occurred after the data 
were collected via phone. If an in-person visit occurred within the standard visit window (see 
Section 6.4.1), the data collected at the in-person visit will be used, otherwise the data collected 
via phone will be used. 
6.5. 
Participant Disposition 
Participant disposition will be summarized by treatment group and overall, where appropriate, 
for the Screened Population. The following information will be reported:  
• Number of participants for the following category:
o Screened
• Number and percentage of participants for the following categories:
o Randomized
o Treated
o Not Treated
o Completed the study
o Discontinued the Study
o Reasons for study discontinuation
• Number and percentage of participants included in, and excluded from, each study 
population together with the reasons for exclusion from the analysis set.
• Number and percentage of participants who completed / discontinued treatment, 
including the reasons for treatment discontinuation.
• Number and percentage of participants who met / did not meet all eligibility criteria, 
together with the criteria not met.


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• Number and percentage of participants who failed screening prior to randomization, 
including the primary reason for screen failure.
• Number and percentage of participants at each site.
All disposition data will also be listed. 
6.6. 
Protocol Deviations 
A listing of protocol deviations will be provided within Appendix 16.2 of the CSR. 
6.7. 
Demographic and Baseline Characteristics 
The comparability of treatment groups with respect to participant demographics and baseline 
characteristics will be assessed in a descriptive manner, but no formal statistical testing will be 
performed. Standard continuous or categorical variable summaries will be presented by treatment 
group for demographic and baseline characteristics in each of the analysis populations.  
Standard descriptive statistics will be presented for the demographic continuous variables, e.g.: 
• Number of Children Living with You
• Number of Adults Living with You
Total counts and percentages of participants will be presented for the demographic categorical 
variables including: 
•
Age (1, 2, 3, 4, 5 years)
•
Sex
•
Race
•
Ethnicity
•
Primarily non-English spoken at home
•
Study site
•
Is a Household Adult Employed
•
Number of Children Living with You
•
Number of Adults Living with You
•
Household Income
Standard descriptive statistics will be presented for the baseline characteristic continuous 
variables: 
•
Number of study teeth per subject
•
Number of study lesions per subject
•
dmfs (number of decayed, missing, and filled surfaces)
•
dmft (number of decayed, missing, and filled teeth)
•
P-CPQ FL
•
P-CPQ EW
•
P-CPQ SW
•
FIS
•
FIS PE


 
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• FIS PF 
• FIS FC 
• Child's Teeth and Mouth Health 
• How much is Child's Overall well-being affected by the condition of his/her teeth, lips, 
jaw or mouth 
• How Much is Family's Daily Life Affected your child’s teeth lips, jaws or mouth 
Total counts and percentages of participants will be presented for the baseline characteristic 
categorical variables of: 
• Entry criteria met 
o Age <3 S-ECC: Any Caries 
o Age 3-5 S-ECC: upper anterior dmfs>=1 
o Age 3 S-ECC: dmfs>=4 
o Age 4 S-ECC: dmfs>=5 
o Age 5 S-ECC: dmfs> 5 
• Number of study teeth per subject 
• Number of study lesions per subject  
• Lesion location 
o Tooth 
o Anterior / Posterior 
o Maxillary / Mandibular 
o Surface 
• ICDAS severity score for enrolled lesions 
• Maximum ICDAS severity score for subject 
• Frequency Child's Teeth are Brushed 
• Who Brushes Child's Teeth 
• Child Uses Fluoride Toothpaste 
• Child Uses Prescription High-Fluoride Toothpaste 
• Fluoride Painted/Put on Child's Teeth 
• How Often Does Child Get Sugary Drinks 
• How Often Does Child Get Sugary Snacks 
• How Often Does Child Drink Water 
• Parent's Satisfaction in Appearance of Child's Teeth 
• Child's Satisfaction in Appearance of Child's Teeth 
• Have Any of Your Children Had Cavities Fixed at Hospital 
• Have Any of Family or Friend's Children Had Cavities Fixed at Hospital 
• Do You Have Any of Your Own Teeth 
• Have You Had Cavities, Fillings, or Teeth Pulled in Last Two Years 
All demographic and baseline characteristic data will also be listed. 


 
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6.8. 
Medical History 
All medical history data will be listed. 
6.9. 
Prior and Concomitant Medications 
All prior and concomitant medications will be listed. 
6.10. 
Exposure 
The number of SDF applications administered will be summarized categorically (0, 1, 2) by 
treatment group for the Safety and ITT and ITT2 Populations. The number of applications 
administered will be listed for each participant. Missing data will not be imputed. 
6.11. 
Efficacy Analyses 
All efficacy endpoints will be analyzed using the ITT and ITT2 populations. Additional analyses 
will be performed on the PP and PP2 populations. 
The null hypothesis is no difference between the treatment groups and the alternative hypothesis 
is there is a difference between treatment groups. All statistical comparisons will be made using 
a two-sided test. The interim and final analyses will be conducted using p-value thresholds of 
0.000001709 and 0.00099938, respectively. The overall type I error for interim and final primary 
endpoint analysis is two-sided α=0.1%. 
Several categorical variables that are to be used as covariates in the GEE model will have 
categories collapsed due to small sample sizes. Race and ethnicity will be combined to form a 
single combined variable defined as: Hispanic or Latino if a subject indicated as such for 
ethnicity, multiracial if more than one race was selected, Black, White, “Asian or ‘American 
Indian or Alaska Native’ or ‘Native Hawaiian / Other Pacific Islander’”, “‘Not Reported’ or 
Unknown”. Within the ‘tooth’ variable, lower incisors (LL1, LL2, LR1, LR2) will be combined 
into a single category and LR6 will be combined with LR5 for the imputation models for the 
lesion arrest outcomes, and combined into upper jaw / lower jaw and anterior teeth (upper and 
lower central incisors, lateral incisors, and cuspids) / posterior teeth (upper and lower molars on 
the) variables for the imputation models for the presence of tooth pain outcomes. For the 
imputation models for the presence of tooth pain outcomes, child ages 1 and 2 years will be 
combined. 
The primary method for handling missing data for 6-month and 8-month efficacy analysis will be 
to use a multiple imputation analysis. Missing data follow a non-monotone missing pattern. The 
imputation will use fully conditional specification (FCS) methods. Imputations for lesion arrest 
and lesion pain will be based on race/ethnicity, gender, age, trial site, initial ICDAS score, tooth 
location, and lesion arrest results from prior visits using a logistic regression model. Imputations 
for the subject-level pain score and family outcomes will be based on race/ethnicity, gender, age, 
trial site, maximum initial ICDAS score for the subject, a non-arrested/arrested indicator for the 
subject (non-arrested if any of the subject’s study lesions are not arrested) at the ‘current’ visit or 
at the most recent prior visit if the ‘current’ visit is missing, and results at prior visits for the 


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outcome using a predictive mean matching model. Missing at random (MAR) will be assumed. 
Twenty-five imputed datasets will be created, and results from the analyses performed on each 
imputed dataset will be combined using standard methods via Proc MIAnalyze. 
6.11.1. Primary Efficacy Hypothesis, Endpoint, and Analysis 
The primary efficacy hypothesis is that 38% Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF) will arrest cavitated 
caries lesions (ICDAS 5 or 6) in primary teeth, measured by a change in dentin hardness, without 
a change in ICDAS severity score, after a single application (measured at 6 months). This occurs 
as a result of the halting of the caries disease process, which occurs very soon after application of 
SDF due to its strong antimicrobial and remineralizing properties. 
The proportion of arrested cavities at the 6-month visit will be compared between the SDF and 
placebo-treated groups first using a generalized estimating equation (GEE) model with a logit 
link for the lesion-specific binary outcome yes/no lesion arrest at the 6-month visit, using an 
exchangeable correlation to account for non-independence among multiple treated lesions within 
a participant. The GEE model will include study site as a covariate due to stratified 
randomization by site. 
Trial teeth that cause pain due to caries, pulpal exposure, mobility, signs of pulpal infection 
(abscess, fistula, swelling) will be exited from the trial and referred for appropriate care (early 
exit strategy), and will be considered treatment failures (non-arrest) in the analysis of the primary 
efficacy outcome. Treatment failures from the early exit strategy and timing of the early exit are 
determined from the subject disposition (withdrawal from the study with reasons related to 
adverse event or study tooth abscess, pulpal involvement, or pain), lesion withdrawal from the 
study (reason for lesion withdrawal study tooth abscess, fistula, pulpal involvement, or pain), 
lesion examination (notes for study tooth abscess, fistula, pulpal involvement, or pain), and 
adverse events. In short, any lesions removed from the trial due to the “early exit strategy” will 
be considered treatment failures – non-arrest of the lesion and presence of pain and/or infection – 
and thus will not be considered to be missing data. 
6.11.2. Primary Outcome Estimand 
Estimand attributes for the primary efficacy analysis are defined according to the following attributes 
specified in ICH E9(R1) Addendum: 
•
Treatment – 38% percent Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF) applied once at baseline.
•
Population – Children between 12-71 months of age at baseline, up to the day the child turns 
6 years old with S-ECC [defined as: In children younger than age 3, any sign (non-cavitated 
or cavitated lesion) of caries in any tooth surface (i.e., most common for this age group will 
be on erupted smooth surfaces). From ages 3 through 5, ≥1 dmfs in maxillary anterior teeth; 
or a dmfs score of ≥4 (age 3), ≥5 (age 4), or ≥6 (age 5) constitutes S-ECC. Note: The “d” 
component of the dmfs index is defined as including cavitated and non-cavitated lesions, thus 
ICDAS>1)] and with at least one SDF-target tooth with soft cavitated caries lesions extending 
into dentin [ICDAS 5 or 6 (Protocol Appendix A)]; and/or cavitated lesion(s) that allow for 
direct hardness assessment and application of SDF (microbrush applicator must fit the cavity 
and be able to access all exposed dentin).
•
Primary Variable – Number of arrested cavities at the 6-month visit.


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•
Population level summary – Odds Ratio comparing odds of arrested cavities in the treated 
group vs odds in the placebo group at month 6 visit. Population risk difference at month 6 
along with its 95% confidence intervals will also be presented.
•
Intercurrent event (IE) – Study discontinuation before 6 months visit due to pain (early 
exit).
•
Strategy – The following strategy will be used to account for IEs - any efficacy data 
collected after the occurrence of the intercurrent event (early exit due to pain before visit at 
month 6) will be set to failure i.e. any lesions removed from the trial due to the “early exit 
strategy” will be considered treatment failures – non-arrest of the lesion and presence of pain 
and/or infection – and thus will not be considered to be missing data.
6.11.3. Primary Efficacy Endpoint: Sensitivity Analyses 
Tipping Point Analyses: 
A sensitivity / tipping point analysis will also be performed to evaluate the MAR assumption for 
the missing primary efficacy outcome (caries arrest at 6 months). A pattern-mixture approach to 
the missing data imputation (missing not at random, MNAR) will be applied to the logistic 
regression model used for imputing the missing caries arrest at 6 months outcome from the 
variables described above. To represent MNAR, a range of shift parameters will be used to 
adjust the log odds ratios for the SDF-treated group. The tipping point will be identified as the 
amount of shift needed to change the statistical significance of the treatment comparison using 
the primary efficacy analysis. The size of the shift required to change the statistical significance 
will be used to gauge the plausibility of the MAR assumption. 
Additional Sensitivity Analysis (Visit Windows): 
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and associated illnesses, precautions, and shutdowns, some 
study subjects were unable to be seen for in-person visits within the study windows. The primary 
analysis will be repeated using wider windows after the 6-month visit, 7-month intermediate 
contact, and 8- month visit as follows: 
•
additional 10 days prior to the original window opening for all visits and intermediate
contacts
•
additional 10 days after the original window closure for all intermediate contacts
•
6-month visit occurred within the standard window
o
use standard windows for the 7-month contact and 8-month visit
•
6-month visit window expanded to include days +202 through +242 post-baseline in
addition to the standard window
o
if the 6-month visit occurred within the expanded window, the 7-month
window used 20- 40 days from the 6-month visit, and the 8-month window
used 41-79 days from the 6- month visit,
o
if the 6-month visit was completed but was more than 242 days post-baseline,
the 7- month window used 20-40 days from the 6-month visit, and the 8-month
window used 41-79 days from the 6-month visit
•
6-month visit missed
o
7-month window 200-270 days post-baseline, 8-month window 221-300 days
post-baseline


 
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The wider window for the 6-month visit still falls within a reasonable range for a 6-month recall 
visit in a clinical setting. Data collected outside the allowable visit or contact windows will be 
treated as missing data as described above in Section 6.11.1. 
6.11.4. Secondary Efficacy Hypotheses, Endpoints, and Analyses 
The gatekeeping procedure will assess the hypotheses associated with the two key secondary 
endpoints in the following prescribed hierarchy. Each endpoint will be assessed using a two-
sided α=0.1% significance level, however the second endpoint in the hierarchy below will be 
gated by the first endpoint meeting significance. Otherwise, no inference will be drawn on the 
second endpoint in the hierarchy below, however results with p-values will still be calculated and 
presented in the table outputs.  
1. Secondary Endpoint #1: Cavitated Caries Lesion Arrest at 8 months (Aim 2) 
This secondary endpoint will be tested first. The same GEE model for binary outcomes as 
used for Aim 1 will be used to compare the proportion of arrested lesions at 8-months to 
examine Aim 2. 
2. Secondary Endpoint #2: Pain (Aim 3) 
This secondary endpoint will be tested second only if the first secondary endpoint reaches 
statistical significance. 
Aim 3: At the 8-month visits, the proportion of treated lesions that have experienced pain 
during the follow-up period before or at the visit will be compared between the SDF and 
placebo-treated groups using GEE models with a logit link for the lesion-specific binary 
outcomes yes/no lesion pain at each visit, using an exchangeable correlation to account for 
non- independence among multiple treated lesions within a participant. The GEE models will 
include study site as a covariate due to stratified randomization by site.  
Other Sub-Aim Secondary Endpoint Analyses: 
For Sub-Aim 2a (Cavitated caries lesion arrest at 3 months), the same GEE model for binary 
outcomes as used for Aim 1 will be used to compare the proportion of arrested lesions at 
3 months to examine Aim 2a. Sub-Aim 2a is not included in the hierarchical testing strategy. 
For Sub-Aim 2b (Stability of the effect of one application of 38% SDF on caries lesion arrest 
between 3 and 6 months), a longitudinal (repeated measures) model for binary data that 
incorporates both the correlation within each subject at each time and across the time points will 
be used to compare the proportion of arrested caries lesions at 3 and 6 months. Study site will be 
included as a covariate due to stratified randomization by site. 
For Sub-Aim 3a (Pain at 3 and 6 months): At the 3-, 6-month visits, the proportion of treated 
lesions that have experienced pain during the follow-up period before or at the visit will be 
compared between the SDF and placebo-treated groups using GEE models with a logit link for 
the lesion-specific binary outcomes yes/no lesion pain at each visit, using an exchangeable 
correlation to account for non- independence among multiple treated lesions within a participant. 
The GEE models will include study site as a covariate due to stratified randomization by site. 


 
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6.11.5. Tertiary Efficacy Hypotheses, Endpoints, and Analyses 
The P-CPQ (Sub-Aim 4a), FIS (Sub-Aim 4a), and satisfaction and acceptability scores (Sub-Aim 
4b) will be compared between the SDF and placebo-treated groups using analysis of covariance 
(ANCOVA). The models will include study site as a covariate due to stratified randomization by 
site. Additional ANCOVA models will consider the effects of covariates and their interactions 
with the treatment effect. 
Changes in the color of treated lesions over time will be summarized by group. 
The family’s experiences with ECC, child’s brushing and dietary habits, and color change will be 
examined as additional covariates for the analyses of satisfaction and acceptability scores. 
The total number of episodes of pain associated with trial teeth per participant (calculated by 
adding all reports of pain throughout the trial verified by a clinical exam to be associated with a 
trial tooth) during the follow-up period and the DDQ scores will be summarized for the SDF and 
placebo treated groups. Due to the small number of participants with any pain, no statistical 
comparisons will be performed for the number of episodes of pain or the DDQ scores. 
Additional analyses of the proportion of arrested lesions at 3-months, 6-months, and 8-months 
will extend the GEE models for binary outcomes to include covariates and their interactions with 
the treatment effect; covariates will include race/ethnicity, gender, age, trial site, initial ICDAS 
score, tooth location (anterior/posterior; as there are some data in the literature to suggest a 
difference in SDF efficacy) and number of affected teeth. Interactions of the covariates with 
treatment will be explored to examine the results for differential treatment effects. However, the 
analyses are not specifically powered to detect these interactions. Due to the small number of 
participants with any pain, no analyses which include covariate effects on the binary pain 
outcomes will be performed. 
6.12. 
Safety Analysis 
The safety analyses will be presented by the treatment received for the Safety Population.  
6.12.1. Adverse Events 
All reported AEs will be coded using the Medical Dictionary for Regulatory Activities 
(MedDRA) and summarized by System Organ Class (SOC) and Preferred Term (PT). 
Analyses of AEs will be performed for those events that are considered treatment emergent 
AEs (TEAE), where treatment emergent is defined as: any AE with onset after the 
administration of study drug (SDF or placebo). 
An overall summary of AEs without SOC and PT will be presented with the number and 
percentage of participants by treatment with any of the following types of AEs: 
• TEAE 
• TEAE by severity (mild, moderate, severe, life-threatening, fatal) 


 
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• TEAE by relationship to study drug (unrelated, related; where unrelated includes not 
related and unlikely related, and related includes possibly related, probably related, 
related) 
• Serious TEAE 
• TEAE leading to study drug discontinuation 
• TEAE leading to death 
In addition to the overall summary, the number and percentage of participants by treatment for 
each of the TEAE categories above will be summarized by SOC and PT. In these summaries, 
each participant will contribute only once to the incidence rate based on the most related 
occurrence and most severe occurrence of the AE. This is true regardless of the number of 
occurrences. 
Summaries of TEAEs by SOC and PT will also include total number of unique AE occurrences, 
where unique AE occurrences include all events, regardless of whether the same participant 
experiences the same AE multiple times. However, if the end of a first occurrence and the start 
of a subsequent occurrence overlap, or the end of a first occurrence indicates “ongoing”, then 
this would be counted as only one occurrence. 
6.13. 
Subgroup Analyses for Efficacy & Safety 
The primary efficacy endpoint and the two key secondary endpoints (using the ITT and ITT2 
populations, as well as the adverse event summaries (using the Safety population) will be 
performed for the following subgroups: 
• Gender (Male, Female) 
• Ethnicity (Hispanic/Latino, Not Hispanic/Latino) 
• Race (Black/African American, White, Asian, American Indian/Alaska Native, 
Multiracial, Not Reported) 
• Age (Binary): < 2 years vs. >=2 years of age 
• Age (Chronological): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 years of age 
 
If any of the categories in the above variables have less than 5% of the analyses set, they may be 
combined with other (neighboring if ordinal) categories so that we have enough subjects in every 
category used in the subgroup analyses. 
 
 


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7.
DATA SAFETY MONITORING BOARD
In addition to the PI’s responsibility for oversight, trial oversight will be under the direction of a 
Data and Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) composed of members with appropriate expertise in 
pediatric dentistry, pediatrics, statistics, ethics, and other scientific disciplines. Members will be 
appointed by NIDCR. The DSMB will meet at least annually to assess safety and efficacy data, 
trial progress, and data integrity for the trial. If safety or data integrity concerns arise, more 
frequent meetings may be held. The DSMB will operate under the rules of an NIDCR-approved 
charter that will be approved at the organizational meeting of the DSMB. The DSMB will 
provide recommendations to the NIDCR. 
In order to maintain clinical trial integrity, there will be firewalls in place to ensure the interim 
analysis results will be limited to only those related experts (e.g., unmasked DSMB members, 
unmasked independent biostatistician) who are independent of the personnel involved in 
conducting and managing this study.  


 
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8. 
INTERIM ANALYSIS 
A formal interim analysis of the primary endpoint will be conducted after approximately half of 
the sample has completed the 6-month examination. A Lan-Demets spending function with an 
O’Brien-Fleming type boundary will be used, with p-values for efficacy at 0.000001709 and 
0.00099938 at 50% and 100% completion, respectively. Non-binding p-values for stopping due 
to futility at 50% and 100% completion will be 0.2336928 and 0.00099938, respectively. 
 
 


 
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9. 
CHANGES TO PLANNED PROTOCOL ANALYSES 
Changes in SAP v3 from the protocol specified analyses include: 
• The per protocol population definition was updated. 
• Safety population was added. 
• A testing strategy for key secondary endpoints was added. 
• Safety analyses will be presented descriptively. Formal statistical testing for safety 
(adverse events) was removed. 
• ITT2 and PP2 analysis populations were added (FDA request from pre-NDA meeting) 
• Subgroup analyses for efficacy and safety was added (FDA request from pre-NDA 
meeting) 
 
 
 
 


 
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10. 
REFERENCES 
Chu CH, Lo ECM, Lin HC. Effectiveness of silver diamine fluoride and sodium fluoride varnish 
in arresting dentin caries in Chinese pre-school children. J Den Res 2002;81(11):767-770. 
[PubMed] 
Liu BY, Lo EC, Chu CH, Lin HC. Randomized trial on fluorides and sealants for fissure caries 
prevention. J Dent Res. 2012 Aug;91(8):753-8. 
Llodra J, Rodriguez A, Ferrer B, Menardia V, Ramos T, Morato M. Efficacy of silver diamine 
fluoride for caries reduction in primary teeth and first permanent molars of schoolchildren: 
36-month clinical trial. J Dent Res 2005;84(8):721–4. 
Tan HP, Lo EC, Dyson JE, Luo Y, Corbet EF. A randomized trial on root caries prevention in 
elders. J Dent Res. 2010 Oct;89(10):1086-90. 
 
 


 
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11. 
TABLES, FIGURES AND LISTING SHELLS 
The full list of all tables, figures, and listings (TFL) along with the associated prototype shells 
and numbering to be produced in accordance with this SAP will be maintained in a standalone 
TFL shell document. 

Prot_000.pdf: 
Phase III RCT of the Effectiveness of Silver Diamine Fluoride in Arresting Cavitated Caries Lesions 
Version 3.1 
Protocol 17-094-E 
16 April 2019 
 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________  
 _____________________________________________________________________________________________  
 
 
 
 
Phase III RCT of the Effectiveness of Silver Diamine 
Fluoride in Arresting Cavitated Caries Lesions 
 
NIDCR Protocol Number: 17-094-E 
 
NIDCR Grant Number: U01DE027372 
 
Principal Investigator: Margherita Fontana, DDS, PhD 
 
NIH Project Scientist: Jane Atkinson, DDS 
 
NIDCR Program Official: Dena Fischer, DDS, MSD, MS 
 
NIDCR Medical Monitor: Kevin D. McBryde, MD 
 
IND Sponsor: Advantage Silver Dental Arrest, LLC 
 
Draft or Version Number: 3.1 
 
16 April 2019 
 


Phase III RCT of the Effectiveness of Silver Diamine Fluoride in Arresting Cavitated Caries Lesions 
Version 3.1 
Protocol 17-094-E 
16 April 2019 
 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________  
 _____________________________________________________________________________________________  
Based on NIDCR Clinical Trial (Interventional) Protocol Template v4.0 - 20140103 
i 
 
 
STATEMENT OF COMPLIANCE 
 
The trial will be conducted in accordance with the International Conference on Harmonisation guidelines 
for Good Clinical Practice (ICH E6), the Code of Federal Regulations on the Protection of Human 
Subjects (45 CFR Part 46), and the NIDCR Clinical Terms of Award. All personnel involved in the 
conduct of this trial have completed human subjects’ protection training. 


Phase III RCT of the Effectiveness of Silver Diamine Fluoride in Arresting Cavitated Caries Lesions 
Version 3.1 
Protocol 17-094-E 
16 April 2019 
 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________  
 _____________________________________________________________________________________________  
Based on NIDCR Clinical Trial (Interventional) Protocol Template v4.0 - 20140103 
ii 
 
SIGNATURE PAGE 
 
The signature below constitutes the approval of this protocol and the attachments, and provides the 
necessary assurances that this trial will be conducted according to all stipulations of the protocol, 
including all statements regarding confidentiality, and according to local legal and regulatory 
requirements and applicable US federal regulations and ICH guidelines. 
Principal Investigator or Clinical Site Investigator: 
 
Signed: 
 
Date: 
 
 
 
Name: 
 
 
 
Title:  
 
 


Phase III RCT of the Effectiveness of Silver Diamine Fluoride in Arresting Cavitated Caries Lesions 
Version 3.1 
Protocol 17-094-E 
16 April 2019 
 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________  
 _____________________________________________________________________________________________  
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TABLE OF CONTENTS 
PAGE 
STATEMENT OF COMPLIANCE ............................................................................................................... I 
SIGNATURE PAGE ....................................................................................................................................II 
TABLE OF CONTENTS ............................................................................................................................ III 
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ..................................................................................................................... VI 
PROTOCOL SUMMARY ....................................................................................................................... VIII 
1 
KEY ROLES AND CONTACT INFORMATION .......................................................................... 11 
2 
INTRODUCTION: BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND SCIENTIFIC RATIONALE.......... 13 
2.1 
Background Information ...................................................................................................... 13 
2.2 
Rationale .............................................................................................................................. 14 
2.3 
Potential Risks and Benefits ................................................................................................. 16 
2.3.1 
Potential Risks ......................................................................................................... 16 
2.3.2 
Potential Benefits .................................................................................................... 17 
3 
OBJECTIVES ................................................................................................................................... 19 
3.1 
Trial Objectives .................................................................................................................... 19 
3.2 
Trial Outcome Measures ...................................................................................................... 19 
3.2.1 
Primary .................................................................................................................... 19 
3.2.2 
Secondary ................................................................................................................ 19 
3.2.3 
Tertiary .................................................................................................................... 20 
4 
TRIAL DESIGN ............................................................................................................................... 21 
5 
TRIAL ENROLLMENT AND WITHDRAWAL ............................................................................ 22 
5.1 
Participant Inclusion Criteria ............................................................................................... 22 
5.2 
Participant Exclusion Criteria .............................................................................................. 22 
5.3 
Strategies for Recruitment and Retention ............................................................................ 23 
5.3.1 
Recruitment ............................................................................................................. 23 
5.3.2 
Retention ................................................................................................................. 25 
5.4 
Treatment Assignment Procedures ...................................................................................... 25 
5.4.1 
Randomization Procedures...................................................................................... 25 
5.4.2 
Masking Procedures ................................................................................................ 25 
5.4.3 
Breaking the Blind .................................................................................................. 26 
5.5 
Participant Withdrawal ......................................................................................................... 26 
5.5.1 
Reasons for Withdrawal .......................................................................................... 26 
5.5.2 
Handling of Participant Withdrawals or Participant Discontinuation of Trial 
Intervention ............................................................................................................. 26 
5.6 
Premature Termination or Suspension of Trial .................................................................... 26 
6 
TRIAL INTERVENTION ................................................................................................................ 28 
6.1 
Trial Product Description ..................................................................................................... 28 
6.1.1 
Formulation, Packaging, and Labeling ................................................................... 28 
6.1.2 
Product Storage and Stability .................................................................................. 28 
6.2 
Dosage, Preparation and Administration of Trial Product ................................................... 28 
6.3 
Modification of Trial Product Administration for a Participant ........................................... 29 
6.4 
Accountability Procedures for the Trial Product .................................................................. 29 
6.5 
Concomitant Medications/Treatments ................................................................................. 29 


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7 
TRIAL SCHEDULE ......................................................................................................................... 30 
7.1 
Consenting Process .............................................................................................................. 30 
7.2 
Screening/Enrollment/Baseline ............................................................................................ 31 
7.3 
Intermediate Visits ............................................................................................................... 31 
7.3.1 
24- to 48-Hour Safety Contacts (±8 hours) ............................................................. 31 
7.3.2 
24- to 48-Hour Safety Visits (±8 hours) ................................................................. 31 
7.3.3 
1.5-, 4.5-, 7-Month Intermediate Contacts (±10 days) ............................................ 31 
7.3.4 
Three-Month Visit (±19 days) ................................................................................ 32 
7.3.5 
Six-Month Visit (±19 days) .................................................................................... 32 
7.4 
Final Trial Visit: 8 Months (±19 days)................................................................................. 32 
7.5 
Withdrawal Visit .................................................................................................................. 32 
7.6 
Unscheduled Visit ................................................................................................................ 32 
7.7 
Unscheduled Contact ........................................................................................................... 33 
8 
TRIAL PROCEDURES / EVALUATIONS ..................................................................................... 34 
8.1 
Trial Procedures/Evaluations ............................................................................................... 34 
8.1.1 
Clinical Examination ............................................................................................... 34 
8.1.2 
Questionnaires ......................................................................................................... 34 
9 
ASSESSMENT OF SAFETY ........................................................................................................... 36 
9.1 
Specification of Safety Parameters ...................................................................................... 36 
9.1.1 
Adverse Events ....................................................................................................... 36 
9.1.2 
Serious Adverse Events .......................................................................................... 36 
9.1.3 
Unanticipated Problems .......................................................................................... 37 
9.2 
Time Period and Frequency for Event Assessment and Follow-Up .................................... 37 
9.3 
Characteristics of an Adverse Event .................................................................................... 37 
9.3.1 
Relationship to Trial Intervention ........................................................................... 37 
9.3.2 
Expectedness of AEs ............................................................................................... 38 
9.3.3 
Severity of Event ..................................................................................................... 38 
9.4 
Reporting Procedures ........................................................................................................... 38 
9.4.1 
Unanticipated Problem Reporting to IRB and NIDCR ........................................... 38 
9.4.2 
Serious Adverse Event Reporting to IND Sponsor and NIDCR ............................. 39 
9.4.3 
Reporting of Safety Events to FDA ........................................................................ 39 
9.5 
Halting Rules ........................................................................................................................ 40 
10 
TRIAL OVERSIGHT ....................................................................................................................... 41 
11 
CLINICAL SITE MONITORING .................................................................................................... 42 
12 
STATISTICAL CONSIDERATIONS .............................................................................................. 43 
12.1 
Trial Hypotheses .................................................................................................................. 43 
12.2 
Sample Size Considerations ................................................................................................. 43 
12.3 
Planned Interim Analyses .................................................................................................... 44 
12.3.1 Safety & Efficacy Review ....................................................................................... 44 
12.4 
Final Analysis Plan .............................................................................................................. 44 
12.4.1 Analysis populations ............................................................................................... 46 
12.4.2 Missing data ............................................................................................................ 46 
13 
SOURCE DOCUMENTS AND ACCESS TO SOURCE DATA/DOCUMENTS .......................... 47 
14 
QUALITY CONTROL AND QUALITY ASSURANCE ................................................................ 48 


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14.1 
Participant Binder ................................................................................................................ 48 
14.2 
Regulatory Binder ................................................................................................................ 48 
15 
ETHICS/PROTECTION OF HUMAN SUBJECTS ......................................................................... 49 
15.1 
Ethical Standard ................................................................................................................... 49 
15.2 
Institutional Review Board .................................................................................................. 49 
15.3 
Informed Consent Process .................................................................................................... 49 
15.4 
Exclusion of Women, Minorities, and Children (Special Populations) ............................... 50 
15.5 
Participant Confidentiality ................................................................................................... 50 
15.6 
Future Use of Stored Specimens and Other Identifiable Data ............................................. 51 
16 
DATA HANDLING AND RECORD KEEPING ............................................................................. 52 
16.1 
Data Management Responsibilities ...................................................................................... 52 
16.2 
Data Capture Methods.......................................................................................................... 52 
16.3 
Types of Data ....................................................................................................................... 52 
16.4 
Schedule and Content of Reports ......................................................................................... 52 
16.5 
Trial Records Retention ....................................................................................................... 53 
16.6 
Protocol Deviations .............................................................................................................. 53 
17 
PUBLICATION/DATA SHARING POLICY .................................................................................. 54 
18 
LITERATURE REFERENCES ........................................................................................................ 55 
SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIALS .............................................................................................................. 58 
APPENDICES ............................................................................................................................................ 59 
APPENDIX A: ICDAS II CRITERIA: CARIES LESION SEVERITY AND ACTIVITY ASSESSMENT60 
APPENDIX B: DENTAL DISCOMFORT QUESTIONNAIRE (DDQ) ................................................... 63 
APPENDIX C: ORAL HEALTH-RELATED QUALITY OF LIFE (OHRQOL) QUESTIONNAIRES .. 64 
APPENDIX D: FAMILY SURVEY ........................................................................................................... 68 
APPENDIX E: ADVERSE EVENTS ......................................................................................................... 71 
 


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LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS 
AE 
Adverse Event/Adverse Experience 
CFR 
Code of Federal Regulations 
CMP 
Clinical Monitoring Plan 
CRF 
Case Report Form 
DCCC 
Data and Clinical Coordinating Center 
DDQ 
Dental Discomfort Questionnaire 
DMFS 
Decayed, missing, and filled tooth surfaces 
DSF 
Diammine Silver Fluoride 
DSMB 
Data and Safety Monitoring Board 
eCRF 
Electronic Case Report Form 
ECC 
Early Childhood Caries 
EHS 
Early Head Start 
F 
Fluoride 
F-Toothpaste 
Fluoridated Toothpaste 
FDA 
Food and Drug Administration 
FIS 
Family Impact Scale 
FFR 
Federal Financial Report 
FV 
Fluoride Varnish 
GCP 
Good Clinical Practice 
HIPAA 
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act 
HS 
Head Start 
ICDAS 
International Caries Detection and Assessment System 
ICH 
International Conference on Harmonisation 
ICMJE 
International Committee of Medical Journal Editors 
IND 
Investigational New Drug Application 
IRB 
Institutional Review Board 
IWRS 
Interactive Web Response System 
LG 
Legal Guardian 
MedDRA 
Medical Dictionary for Regulatory Activities 
MOP 
Manual of Procedures 
N 
Number (typically refers to participants) 
NDA 
New Drug Application 
NIDCR 
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, NIH 
NIH 
National Institutes of Health 


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OCTOM 
Office of Clinical Trials Operations and Management, NIDCR, NIH 
OHRP 
Office for Human Research Protections 
OHRQoL 
Oral Health-Related Quality of Life 
OR 
Operating Room 
P-CPQ 
Parental-Caregiver Perception Questionnaire 
PHI 
Protected Health Information 
PI 
Principal Investigator 
QA 
Quality Assurance 
QC 
Quality Control 
RCT 
Randomized Clinical Trial 
SAE 
Serious Adverse Event/Serious Adverse Experience 
SAP 
Statistical Analysis Plan 
SDF 
Silver Diamine Fluoride 
SECC 
Severe Early Childhood Caries 
sIRB 
Single Institutional Review Board 
SOP 
Standard Operating Procedure 
UP 
Unanticipated Problem 
US 
United States 
 


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PROTOCOL SUMMARY 
 
Title: 
Phase III RCT of the Effectiveness of Silver Diamine Fluoride in Arresting 
Cavitated Caries Lesions 
 
Précis: 
There are large disparities in the access to and effectiveness of many 
available preventive strategies for Severe-Early Childhood Caries (S-ECC) 
and Early Childhood Caries (ECC), two of the disease presentations for 
dental caries in children, one of the most common chronic diseases of 
childhood. This inequity frequently results in progression of dental disease in 
higher risk groups to an advanced stage, during which cavitated carious 
lesions and/or pulpal infections develop. When primary prevention fails or is 
not accessible, effective treatments that are safe, simple, low-cost, and 
acceptable to patients are necessary to decrease disease morbidity. 
 
The product, 38% percent Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF; also known as 
Diammine Silver Fluoride- DSF) is a potentially safe, non-invasive, quick, 
simple to use agent that will be tested in this trial for its ability to arrest 
cavitated lesions with exposed dentin in primary teeth (Chu et al., 2002; 
Llodra et al., 2005; Tan et al., 2010; Liu et al., 2012). SDF has been used 
since the 1970s in Asia as a caries arresting and anti-hypersensitivity agent, 
and in 2014 SDF was cleared by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as 
a medical device to manage hypersensitive teeth in adults. 
 
This trial is a Phase III, multisite, randomized, placebo-controlled superiority 
trial, with two parallel groups: SDF/placebo, applied at baseline and at 
approximately 6 months. The primary hypothesis of the trial is that 38% SDF 
is superior to placebo for arresting cavitated caries lesions with dentin 
exposed in primary teeth when assessed approximately 6 months after initial 
application. 
 
Objectives: 
 
 
Primary:  
 
Aim 1: Assess the efficacy of 38% SDF applied once, to arrest cavitated 
lesions exposing dentin clinically, in the primary dentition at 6 month 
follow-up. 
 
 
Secondary: 
 
Aim 2: Assess the efficacy of 38% SDF applied twice, 
approximately 6 months apart, to arrest cavitated lesions exposing 
dentin clinically, in the primary dentition at 8 month follow-up. 
 
Sub Aim 2a: Compare the effect of one application of 38% SDF at 3 
and 6 month follow-ups. 
 
Aim 3: Assess the impact of 38% SDF applied twice, approximately 
6 months apart, on pain in children. 
 
Sub Aim 3a: Assess the impact of 38% SDF on pain after a single 
application (assessed at 3 and 6 months). 
 


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Tertiary: 
 
Aim 4: Assess the impact of 38% SDF on Family-Level Outcomes:  
 
Sub Aim 4a: Assess the impact of 38% SDF on Oral Health-Related 
Quality of Life (OHRQoL).  
 
Sub Aim 4b: Assess the effect of 38% SDF on Treatment 
Satisfaction and Acceptability. 
 
Population: 
1144 generally healthy children 12-71 months of age, with S-ECC, and at 
least one cavitated caries lesion exposing dentin clinically (International 
Caries Detection and Assessment System- ICDAS scores 5 or 6) at the 
baseline caries examination. Participants may undergo a pre-screening 
examination as part of the annual dental examination for school-based early 
childhood education programs such as Head Start, Early Head Start, and 
equivalent city/state subsidized preschool programs in Michigan, Iowa, or 
New York, or in clinics associated with the three clinical sites. Children of all 
demographics and genders will be included. 
 
Phase: 
III 
 
Clinical Sites: 
University of Michigan School of Dentistry 
New York University College of Dentistry 
University of Iowa College of Dentistry 
 
Description of  
Intervention: 
Advantage ArrestTM (Elevate Oral Care, LLC., West Palm Beach, FL) is the 
38% SDF drug brand to be used in this trial. The trial drug, 38% Silver 
Diamine Fluoride [Ag(NH3)2F], a clear and blue-tinted solution, will be 
applied to each eligible carious lesion with a disposable applicator at baseline 
and approximately at 6 months. For participants randomized to the placebo 
group, non-fluoridated deionized water containing a blue tint will be applied 
to each carious lesion, in the same manner as the SDF is applied. 
 
Trial Duration: 
5 years 
 
Participant 
Participation 
Duration: 
Approximately 8 months (from baseline exam to final exam) 
 
 
 
Estimated Time to 
Complete 
Enrollment: 
Approximately 4 years 


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Schematic of Trial Design: 
8-Month Visit (T=240 days ± 19 days)
Final ICDAS exam, hardness and color assessment, questionnaires
7 Month Contact (T=210 days ± 10 days)
Assess pain, maintain contact with parent/LG
24 to 48 hour Safety Contact/Visit (± 8 hours)
Assess for AE/SAE/UP
6-Month Visit (T=180 days ± 19 days)
ICDAS exam, hardness and color assessment, questionnaires, reapplication of SDF/Placebo, 
4.5 Month Contact (T=135 days ± 10 days)
Assess pain, maintain contact with parent/LG
3-Month Visit (T=90 days ±19 days)
ICDAS exam, hardness and color assessment, questionnaires
1.5 Month Contact (T=45 days ± 10 days)
Assess pain, maintain contact with parent/LG
24 to 48 hour Safety Contact/Visit (± 8 hours)
Assess for AE/SAE/UP
Baseline (T=0). Total  N = 1144.
Obtain informed consent, ICDAS exam, hardness and color assessment, questionnaires, 
SDF/Placebo application
N = 572 SDF
N = 572 Placebo


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1 KEY ROLES AND CONTACT INFORMATION 
Principal 
Investigator:   
Margherita Fontana, DDS, PhD 
Professor, Dept. Cariology, Restorative Sciences & Endodontics  
University of Michigan School of Dentistry  
1011 N. University, Room 2393, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1078, USA 
Phone: 734-647-1225 
Fax: 734-936-1597 
Email: mfontan@umich.edu 
 
NIDCR Medical 
Monitor: 
Kevin McBryde, MD  
Senior Medical Officer  
NIH/NIDCR/DER  
6701 Democracy Blvd., Room 638  
Bethesda, MD 20892-4878  
Phone: 301-594-0170  
Email: mcbrydekd@nidcr.nih.gov 
 
NIH Project  
Scientist:   
Jane Atkinson, DDS 
Director, Trial Innovation Network 
National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences 
6701 Democracy Blvd., Room 922 
Bethesda, Maryland 20892 
Phone: 301-827-6031 
Email: jatkinso@mail.nih.gov 
 
NIDCR Program 
Official: 
Dena Fischer, DDS, MSD, MS 
Acting, Director, Center for Clinical Research 
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research 
6701 Democracy Blvd., MSC 4878 
Bethesda, MD 20892-4878 
Phone: 301-594-4876 
Email: dena.fischer@nih.gov 
  
Clinical Site 
Investigators: 
Carlos Gonzalez-Cabezas, DDS, MSD, PhD 
Associate Professor, Dept. Cariology, Restorative Sciences & Endodontics  
University of Michigan School of Dentistry  
1011 N. University, Room 2395, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1078, USA 
Phone: 734-763-3391 
Fax: 734-936-1597 
Email: carlosgc@umich.edu 
 
Amr Moursi, DDS, PhD 
Chair, Department of Pediatric Density 
New York University College of Dentistry 
421 First Avenue, Room 969 W Weissman 
New York, NY 10010 
Phone: 212-995-9435 
Fax: 212-995-4364 
Email: moursi@nyu.edu 
 


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Steve Levy, DDS, MPH 
Professor, Department of Preventive & Community Dentistry 
University of Iowa College of Dentistry 
801 Newton Road 
Iowa City, IA 52242 
Phone: 319-335-7185 
Fax: 319-335-7389 
Email: steven-levy@uiowa.edu 
 
Data & Clinical 
Coordinating Center 
(DCCC): 
Emily Yanca 
Project Manager 
University of Michigan School of Dentistry  
1011 N. University, Room 2331, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1078, USA 
Phone: 734-763-3988 
Fax: 734-936-1597 
Email: emthorpe@umich.edu 
 
Other Key 
Personnel: 
George Eckert, MAS 
Biostatistician 
Indiana University School of Medicine 
410 W. Tenth St., Suite 3000  
Indianapolis, IN 46202-3012  
Phone: 317-274-2884 
Fax: 317-274-2678 
Email: geckert@iu.edu 
 
Barry Katz, PhD, MPH 
Professor and Chair, Department of Biostatistics 
Indiana University School of Medicine 
410 W. Tenth St., Suite 3000  
Indianapolis, IN 46202-3012  
Phone: 317-274-2661 
Fax: 317-274-2678 
Email: bkatz@iu.edu 


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2 INTRODUCTION: BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND SCIENTIFIC 
RATIONALE  
2.1 
Background Information 
Early Childhood Caries (ECC) is defined as the presence of one or more decayed, missing or filled 
primary tooth surfaces (dmfs) in a child 71 months of age or younger (Drury et al., 1999). The term 
severe-ECC refers to "progressive" or "rampant" patterns of dental caries (American Dental Association-
ADA Definition of ECC, 2000). According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD 
Definition of ECC, 2008), in children younger than age 3, any sign (white spot or cavitation) of smooth-
surface caries is indicative of severe-ECC. From ages 3 through 5, ≥1 dmfs in maxillary anterior teeth; or 
a dmfs score of ≥4 (age 3), ≥5 (age 4), or ≥6 (age 5) constitutes severe-ECC. 
 
Dental caries is one of the most prevalent chronic diseases among children in the U.S. and the world 
(Kassebaum et al., 2015), and one of the most common unmet healthcare needs of poor children. ECC has 
long-term broad dental, medical, societal, economic and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL; 
Locker and Allen, 2007) consequences (e.g., young children with ECC have poor OHRQoL; Malden et 
al., 2008; Turton et al., 2013). 
 
There are profound disparities in oral health and access to dental care. In the US, as much as 80% of 
caries incidence is experienced by only 20-25% of children, with 10% having untreated cavities, and 
those from low socioeconomic and minority groups experiencing significantly higher rates and at younger 
ages (Dye et al., 2007 and 2015). There also are clear issues related to access to care. The lack of 
uniformity in caries distribution underscores issues related to resource allocation. Limited data indicate 
that although roughly 60% of dentists accept Medicaid-enrolled patients, rates of treatment for Medicaid 
enrollees is much lower when more stringent criteria for Medicaid participation are utilized (e.g., 
approximately 20% of Medicaid-enrolled dentists treat at least 100 patients in 1 year) (Warder and 
Edelstein, 2017). Similarly, an American Dental Association (ADA) survey indicated that most general 
dentists (~96%) do not see children until 6 years of age (ADA, 2012), leaving care for children under 6 to 
the very limited pediatric dental workforce. 
 
The current standard of care for management of caries once cavitated lesions develop is mostly limited in 
the U.S. to restoring these lesions. Especially in the case of young children who need extensive treatment, 
or are uncooperative and/or have immature cognitive functioning, disabilities, or medical conditions, 
treatment is often provided in hospital operating rooms with the child under general anesthesia (AAPD 
Policy on the Use of Deep Sedation and General Anesthesia in the Pediatric Dental Office, 2012), with all 
associated health, economic and frequent relapse issues (Berkowitz, 2003). In 2016, the FDA issued a 
notice to health care providers that general anesthesia in young children can result in permanent 
neurological damage and should be avoided. To address this concern, there is an ongoing randomized 
clinical trial (RCT) in the United Kingdom (i.e., the FiCTION trial; Innes et al., 2013) to assess effective 
management strategies for cavities in primary teeth, with a “preventive” arm in which children are 
exposed to preventive recommendations and treatments without receiving any restorative intervention for 
cavitated lesions. 
 
Fluoride Varnish (FV) is one of the most simple, easy and possibly effective strategies currently available 
to prevent ECC or treat non-cavitated caries lesions (i.e., white spot lesions; Marinho et al., 2013); 
however, it is not effective in treating cavitated lesions. When tested in an RCT, FV had the same effect 
as providing no treatment in management of cavitated lesions (Chu et al., 2002). Also, because FVs are 
approved by the FDA in the U.S. as “devices” for reducing hypersensitivity, not “drugs” for preventing 
dental caries, there is no oversight to ensure products are effective and safe for caries control. This has 
resulted in great product variability in terms of in vitro and in vivo Fluoride (F) release and in vitro 


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remineralization. This raises concerns about clinical anti-caries efficacy of some existing products 
(Lippert et al., 2013, Gonzalez-Cabezas and Flannagan, 2014 and 2015). 
 
The previously described factors resulted in a significant interest in developing and/or evaluating non-
invasive, safe, simple, and effective strategies for the management of cavitated caries lesions (i.e., holes 
in the teeth with dentin exposed) in young children that are acceptable, inexpensive (and thus cost-
effective), and feasible to implement in a variety of settings (dental and non-dental). Such alternative 
strategies to restorative care should increase access to care, help reduce disparities in young children, and 
diminish the excess morbidity and mortality associated with the disease. 
 
The product investigated in this trial is 38% silver diamine fluoride (SDF; also known as Diammine 
Silver Fluoride- DSF). SDF is currently marketed in the United States as Advantage ArrestTM, an FDA 
approved device to manage dentin hypersensitivity in adults. The effectiveness of SDF will be compared 
to a placebo for arrest of cavitated lesions with dentin exposed in primary teeth, an off-label use of the 
current FDA approval for SDF. 
 
2.2 
Rationale 
The overarching goal of this trial is to determine if SDF is an effective and acceptable strategy for the 
management of cavitated lesions with dentin exposed in primary teeth.  
 
Children experiencing S-ECC will be enrolled in this trial. To recruit children with cavitated lesions with 
dentin exposed (ICDAS scores 5 or 6), young children enrolled in school-based early childhood education 
programs such as Head Start, Early Head Start and equivalent city/state-subsidized preschool programs, 
or children attending clinics associated with the clinical trial sites, will be screened for untreated cavitated 
lesions with dentin exposed. These programs typically have higher untreated cavitated lesion rates than 
the national average. 
 
The trial product, 38% SDF or placebo will be applied twice, approximately 6 months apart.  
 
The use of 38% SDF for caries management is drawing increasing attention throughout the world. Recent 
systematic reviews and meta-analyses of existing RCT or quasi randomized clinical trials have concluded 
that 38% SDF is a potentially safe, non-invasive, quick, simple to use, and potentially effective agent, 
with reported effect sizes for percentages of primary teeth with arrested cavitated caries lesions from 66% 
(Gao et al., 2016a; Mei et al., 2016) to 81% (Gao et al., 2016b). SDF has been used since the 1970s in 
Asia as a cavity-arresting and anti-hypersensitivity agent. The literature reports a very high percentage of 
caries lesion arrest after a single application of SDF (~79%; Zhi et al., 2012), with increases after repeated 
application after 6 months (~91%; Zhi et al., 2012). This is the reason for assessing the effect of SDF after 
a single application, and also after being applied twice, approximately 6 months apart. As children will be 
clinically examined at baseline and 3, 6 and 8 month visits in this trial, and SDF applied at baseline and 
approximately 6 months post-baseline, we will be able to evaluate the effect after 1 and 2 applications. 
Regarding application method, no caries removal is necessary prior to application (Chu et al., 2002). 
Lesions are first cleaned of food debris and gross visible plaque, dried, and then the solution is painted on 
the dentin of each targeted cavitated lesion using a standardized applicator. One drop (approximately 100 
l) may treat many lesions, depending on their size. We will use up to 2 drops per child per visit in this 
trial. The arrest happens very quickly after application: 72% (95% CI: 55-84%) of cavities turned hard 
within 2 weeks when treated once with SDF vs. 5% (95% CI: 0-16%) when treated with a placebo (i.e., 
water) in a recent short-term RCT conducted in Head Start programs (Milgrom et al., 2018). Limited data 
suggests there might be a difference in efficacy based on lesion location and size (Zhi et al., 2012), thus 
we will use these variables as covariates in our analyses. 
 


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In gaining clearance by the FDA, Advantage Silver Dental Arrest, LLC conducted female and male rat 
and mouse studies to determine the lethal dose (LD50) of SDF by oral and subcutaneous administration. 
The oral LD50 was between 520 and 570 mg/kg. The subcutaneous LD50 was between 442 and 440 
mg/kg. The relative safety margin of using 2 entire drops on a 10 kg child is: 440 mg/kg subcutaneous 
LD50 /8.6 mg/kg dose = 51-fold safety margin (see Section 6.3).  In Japan, the product is used for 
treatment of dental caries in adults and children, as well as for sensitivity. The Japanese manufacturer of 
the identical product estimates that more than 2 million multi-use containers of Saforide have been sold 
since it was approved by Japanese authorities, including between 41,000 and 48,000 units each year in the 
most recent three reporting years. In the three-year reporting period, there was not a single adverse event 
reported. Furthermore, the lack of adverse events reported after SDF use in Japan suggests that SDF will 
be well tolerated and will not result in significant toxicity. Recent studies have found that >90% of silver 
compounds applied to tooth samples are incorporated into the tooth substance and contribute to increased 
mineral density (Besinis et al, 2013; Zhi et al, 2013). This suggests that systemic exposure to the silver 
compound following SDF application may be limited. 
 
Advantage Silver Dental Arrest, LLC conducted a clinical efficacy and safety study in 2 clinical sites in 
Peru, after consultation with FDA staff regarding the design (Castillo et al. 2011). Exposure to SDF in 
adults produced no difference in mean Gingival Index (GI) score between test (n=63) and placebo (n=63) 
groups at 24 hours or seven days. Erythema scores above grade 1 were transiently higher for the test 
group at 24 hours at one site and not the other, while neither site's participants showed a difference 
between test and placebo at seven days. An independent examiner masked to the trial intervention, using 
photographs, confirmed the finding that no white or dark changes or instances of ulceration were visible 
in any participant at any time point at either clinical trial site. Similarly, there was no evidence of 
systemic reaction. No participant reported nausea, vomiting, gastrointestinal upset or other potential acute 
reaction to the product. The finding of no or only transient changes to the gingival tissues is consistent 
with other studies, as described next. 
 
In four randomized clinical trials in which multiple teeth were treated with SDF for dental caries in 
preschool children, school-age children, and elders, not a single unexpected adverse event was reported 
(Llodra et al. 2005; Chu et al., 2002; Tan et al., 2010; Liu et al., 2012). In the Llodra et al. study (2005), 3 
out of 225 children treated with SDF had transient mildly painful white lesions on the gingival surface 
near the tooth treated. These lesions resolved without treatment in 48 hours when the children were re-
examined. These transient effects, although mildly adverse, were not unexpected. In a recent study in the 
US, targeting 3-5 year old children in Head Start centers, 38% SDF or placebo was applied (Milgrom et 
al., 2018). Within 24 to 48 hours of treatment, trained staff contacted parent/caregivers by telephone 
about adverse events. The questions included: (1) Has your child required medical care since his/her 
dental visit in the last 48 hours? (2) Has your child been to an emergency room, medical doctor, nurse or 
health care provider? (3) Since receiving the solution on the teeth has your child experienced any of the 
following? Nausea, not eating, vomiting, difficulty swallowing or breathing, swelling around the lips or 
skin of the face, itchiness around the lips or skin of the face, hives or rash, stomach ache, or diarrhea. 
Eight adverse events were reported by parents, 4 in each group. Based on enrolled participants, the 
adverse event rate was 11.1% in the placebo group (exact 95% CI: 3.2 to 26.7%) and 13.3% in the 38% 
SDF group (exact 95% CI: 3.7 to 30.7%). Based on all contacted participants, the adverse event rate was 
15.4% in the placebo group (exact 95% CI: 4.3 to 34.9%) and 16.0% in the 38% SDF group (exact 95% 
CI: 4.5 to 36.1%). There were no statistically significant differences by treatment. The type of adverse 
event, severity and relationship of the adverse event to the treatment condition are reported in the Tables 1 
and 2 below. The majority of the adverse events were either diarrhea or stomach ache, mild in severity 
and all resolved within 2 days of reporting. At the follow-up visit 14 to 21 days after treatment, a dental 
provider performed a visual examination to detect gingival or soft tissue stomatitis or ulcerative lesions. 
No participant was identified at that point with gingival or soft tissue stomatitis or ulcerative lesions. 


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Table 1. Completion of 24-48 hour follow-up and reported adverse events in Milgrom et al., 2018 study 
in 3-5 year old children after application of 38% SDF or placebo 
 
 
Table 2. Harms in Milgrom et al., 2018 study in 3-5 year old children 
Study 
identification 
Group 
Adverse event description 
Severity 
of event 
Relationship of event 
to study product 
1015 
Placebo Diarrhea 
Mild 
Unrelated 
2004 
Placebo Diarrhea 
Mild 
Possibly related 
2082 
Placebo Stomach ache 
Moderate 
Possibly related 
3052 
Placebo Sporadic sore & hurting tooth; 
Diarrhea 
Mild 
Probably not related 
1003 
SDF 
Flu like symptoms (nausea, 
vomiting, stomach ache, diarrhea) 
Mild 
Probably not related 
1007 
SDF 
Redness around mouth, but not sore 
or irritated 
Mild 
Probably not related 
1008 
SDF 
Spot on corner of lip; looked like a 
burn but was flat, not sore or irritated 
Mild 
Possibly related 
3056 
SDF 
Nausea and stomach ache 
Mild 
Probably not related 
 
2.3 
Potential Risks and Benefits 
2.3.1 
Potential Risks 
Potential SDF-affiliated risks to human subjects include: discoloration of cavitated lesions, possibility that 
treated lesions will progress between enrollment and the 8-month final trial visit if the SDF does not 
arrest the lesion, transient metallic or bitter taste, and temporary irritation of soft tissues (e.g., erythema, 
ulceration) after application. Similar risks apply to the placebo group, as lesions may discolor and 
progress between enrollment and the 8-month final trial visit. If SDF contacts the skin there may be a 
temporary tattoo that will resolve within 2 weeks. Potential safety risks associated with an allergic 
reaction or gastrointestinal disturbances will be assessed during the trial, to include: nausea, not eating, 
vomiting, difficulty swallowing or breathing, swelling around the lips or skin of the face, itchiness around 
the lips or skin of the face, hives or rash, stomach ache, or diarrhea. Other risks associated with trial 
procedures include potential trauma as a result of the ICDAS examination, (this risk is no greater than the 
risk from a traditional dental examination); cross-contamination associated with the ICDAS and intraoral 
photographs; and potential loss of confidentiality. Additionally, the trial questionnaires pose minimal risk 
of discomfort as they do not contain any disturbing material. 
 
 
All 
participants 
N = 66 
Placebo 
N = 35 
SDF 
N = 30 
24-48 hour follow-up, n (%)  
 
 
 
Completed 
51 (77.3) 
26 (62.2) 
25 (83.3) 
Unable to contact  
15 (22.7) 
10 (27.8) 
5 (16.7) 
 
 
 
 
Adverse event, n (%) 
8 (12.1) 
4 (11.1) 
4  (13.3) 


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The protocol has been designed to minimize these risks. Particularly, as there is risk of disease 
progression while the child is in this trial, all children will be followed up closely, with the trial team 
facilitating access to care immediately upon trial completion, or whenever necessary throughout the trial. 
Children enrolled in the trial will not be denied services that constitute the current clinical standard of 
care, except that they will be asked to not brush with fluoridated toothpaste the day of the SDF/placebo 
application and to not receive fluoride varnish application that day.  Furthermore, all parents/guardians 
will be encouraged to have their children receive all preventive services, including fluoride varnish 
applications, that would typically be provided to children in the program or setting from which they are 
recruited. Parents/caregivers of all child study participants will be advised to seek follow-up care for their 
children at the end of the study. During the 1.5-, 4.5-, and 7-Month Intermediate Contacts, which will take 
place between the frequent trial visits (3, 6, and 8 months), the parent will be asked questions to help 
determine if the child has toothache pain and disease progression. Additionally, parents/legal guardians 
will be instructed to contact the trial team at any point during the trial if they have any questions or 
concerns. See Section 9 for a description of safety procedures. See Manual of Procedures for more details. 
 
To decrease potential risks associated with SDF usage, teeth will be dried with cotton or gauze prior to 
application, and excess fluid will be blot dried after application. Follow-up of participants will take place 
approximately 24-48 hours after study product is applied, to record any adverse events that occur 
following SDF/placebo administration. Safety monitoring is described in detail in Section 9. 
 
Furthermore, dental examinations and other data collection procedures will be performed by experienced 
personnel well versed in proper trial methodology and Good Clinical Practices. Risk of infection and 
cross-contamination will be minimized by following established infection control procedures developed 
by the University of Michigan, University of Iowa, and New York University, which are in compliance 
with all state and federal mandates. In addition, training will be provided to ensure the appropriate 
management of young children (although all trial sites have extensive experience working with young 
children in clinical research), and every attempt will be made to maintain examination times as short as 
possible. 
 
The primary caregiver could be uncomfortable answering some of the questions in the trial 
questionnaires. The primary caregiver may choose to decline responding to any question(s) s/he is not 
comfortable answering. Precautions will be in place to minimize the risk of loss of confidentiality, such as 
collecting only minimal identifying information and storing data collection documents in locked cabinets 
(located in locked offices), using unique trial codes for participants, using encrypted computers, and 
maintaining electronic data files on a password-protected computer drive. Compliance with all IRB 
regulations concerning data collection, data analysis, data storage, and data destruction will be strictly 
observed. 
 
2.3.2 
Potential Benefits 
During the randomized clinical trial, benefits to the participants include periodic dental examinations, 
with results of all dental examinations provided to the parent or legal guardian. Additionally, for those 
participants in the intervention arm, the intervention might arrest caries lesion progression, decrease pain, 
and improve quality of life for the child and family. In the case of serious dental health problems (e.g., 
abscesses, pain, etc.), parents/legal guardians and children will be offered an unscheduled trial visit and 
referred for care for these issues by the trial team. Please see the Manual of Procedures (MOP) for more 
details. 
 
Additionally, the trial team will work with parents/legal guardians so appointments are in place for an 
immediate non-trial dental visit upon completion. Up to $250 will be reimbursed, if needed, for 
emergency care costs associated with a trial tooth within 6 months after withdrawal from the trial (during 


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a 6- to 9-month hospital operating room waiting period in the teams’ clinics, 8-12% of patients required 
emergency visits). Furthermore, at baseline (and at any other point when teeth requiring treatment are 
identified), the parent/legal guardian will be informed of any ineligible teeth requiring treatment, and the 
trial team will facilitate referrals for care for these teeth. 
 
If efficacy is demonstrated for SDF, the anticipated long-term benefit for future non-trial children is 
increased access to care by providing a cost-effective, non-invasive option as an alternative for managing 
cavitated caries lesions in young children. The anticipated benefit for society is having an indication for 
caries arrest for SDF use, if effective, which would ensure regulation of efficacy and safety over time. 


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3 OBJECTIVES 
3.1 
Trial Objectives 
Aim 1: The primary aim of this trial is to assess the efficacy of 38% SDF applied once, to arrest cavitated 
lesions (caries lesions with cavities that expose dentin clinically, but with no pulp exposure, pain, 
mobility, or clinical signs of pulpal infection) in the primary dentition (assessed using the International 
Caries Detection and Assessment System-ICDAS II activity criteria, Appendix A) at 6 month follow-up. 
 
Aim 2: The secondary aim (not intended for drug labeling claims) is to assess the efficacy of 38% SDF 
applied twice, approximately 6 months apart, to arrest cavitated lesions in the primary dentition at 
approximately 8 months after initial application. A comparison of the effect of one application will be 
assessed over time at 3 and 6 months follow-ups (Sub-Aim 2a). 
 
Aim 3: The next secondary aim (not intended for drug labeling claims) is to assess the impact of 38% 
SDF applied twice, approximately 6 months apart on pain in children, through use of the Dental 
Discomfort Questionnaire. The impact of 38% SDF on pain after a single application will be assessed at 
approximately 3 and 6 months (Sub-Aim 3a). 
 
Aim 4: The tertiary aim (not intended for drug labeling claims) is to assess the effect of 38% SDF applied 
once (assessed at approximately 6 months after initial application) and twice, approximately 6 months 
apart (assessed at approximately 8 months after initial application) on family-level outcomes, assessing 
the impact on oral health-related quality of life (Sub-Aim 4a), and on treatment satisfaction and 
acceptability (e.g., associated with the change in color of treated lesions, etc.; Sub-Aim 4b). The 
relationship between treatment satisfaction/acceptability and other factors (e.g., family experience with 
ECC, oral hygiene and dietary habits) will be evaluated. 
 
3.2 
Trial Outcome Measures 
3.2.1 
Primary 
Efficacy of 38% SDF to arrest Cavitated Caries Lesions (Aim 1): Lesion arrest will be assessed for all 
cavitated lesions in the mouth (whether included or not in the trial, to reduce bias) using the ICDAS II 
system activity criteria, which categorizes lesion activity for ICDAS scores 5-6 based on dentin hardness 
[i.e., arrested lesions will change over time from soft-included in the trial at baseline- to hard, without an 
increase in ICDAS severity score (see Appendix A)]. The primary outcome used in the analyses will be 
the proportion of arrested trial lesions per child in each treatment arm. For the purposes of testing the 
hypothesis, the primary outcome will be measured at about 6 months post initial treatment (Aim 1).  
 
3.2.2 
Secondary 
The following secondary outcomes associated with application of 38% SDF will be assessed, but are not 
intended to support drug labeling claims: 
 
Efficacy of 38% SDF to arrest Cavitated Caries Lesions when applied twice, approximately 6 
months apart: lesion arrest will be measured at approximately 8 months post initial treatment to 
assess efficacy (Aim 2). Compare (Sub-Aim 2a) the effect of one application of SDF measured at 
approximately 3 and 6 months post initial treatment. 
 
Child’s Pain (Aim 3): The pain outcome will be defined as the proportion of children in each 
treatment arm experiencing toothache pain. Additional pain outcomes will be the number of 
episodes of pain associated with treated teeth for each child in each arm during the follow-up 
period and the average recorded pain score for children in each treatment arm. The presence of 
pain associated with a trial tooth will be defined as a score of 1 or higher using the Dental 
Discomfort Questionnaire (DDQ; Appendix B and Section 8), which a trial examiner can 
associate with a trial tooth during a clinical visit. The number of pain episodes is the total of all 


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in-person visits at which a DDQ score of 1 or higher is confirmed by the trial examiner to be 
associated with a trial tooth. The pain score will be calculated using the DDQ. 
 
3.2.3 
Tertiary 
The following tertiary outcomes associated with the effect of 38% SDF on the Family will be assessed, 
but are not intended to support drug labeling claims: 
 
Oral Health-Related Quality of Life (OHRQoL): OHRQoL will be assessed at baseline, 3-, 6-, 
and 8-month visits. Parents/legal guardians will be asked to complete the 16-item Parental-
Caregiver Perception Questionnaire (P-CPQ) and 8-item Family Impact Scale (FIS) questionnaire 
(Thomson et al., 2013; Appendix C). The P-CPQ and FIS total and subscale scores are computed 
by summing the scores.  
 
 
Treatment Satisfaction and Acceptability: This will be assessed at baseline/24-48 hour 
contact/visit, and 3-, 6-, and 8-month visits using the questionnaire labeled as Family Survey 
(Appendix D). Parents/legal guardians in each treatment arm will be asked about their level of 
satisfaction with the appearance of their children’s teeth, and their overall level of acceptance and 
satisfaction with the treatment received. They will also be asked about their family experiences 
with ECC, as well as the child’s brushing and dietary habits, and these items will be correlated 
with acceptability and satisfaction (e.g., adults having prior experience with the consequences of 
ECC and associated stress might be more accepting of this treatment alternative). In addition, 
color of treated lesions will be determined (yellow, brown, black), not as a primary indicator of 
lesion activity, but the change in color over time will be used for both trial arms as a measure of 
consequences associated with treatment assessed in the satisfaction questionnaire. 


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4 TRIAL DESIGN 
This trial is a phase III, multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled superiority trial, with two parallel 
groups (placebo vs. 38% SDF applied to cavitated lesions) involving a total of 1144 children with the 
primary outcome assessed approximately 6 months after initial treatment. 
 
One thousand one hundred forty-four children, 12-71 months of age, from early childhood education 
programs, such as Head Start centers, Early Head Start centers, and equivalent city/state subsidized 
preschool programs, or children attending clinics associated with the clinical trial sites, will be 
randomized. All children will be followed for approximately 8 months. Trial enrollment will occur over a 
course of approximately 4 years. Trial visits will occur at baseline, and approximately 3 months, 6 
months, and 8 months. SDF/placebo will be applied at baseline and 6 month visits. Parents/legal 
guardians will be contacted approximately 24 to 48 hours after the SDF/placebo application to assess 
adverse events and unanticipated problems and in-person visits for safety exams will be available for all 
child participants approximately 24 to 48 hours after SDF/placebo application. This visit could happen 
before or after the 24- to 48-hour contact with the parent or legal guardian, but every attempt will be made 
so that the contact occurs prior to the 24- to 48-hour visit (unless the parent/legal guardian is able to 
attend the 24-48 hour visit and answer questions in person). Additionally, intermediate contacts at 
approximately 1.5 months, 4.5 months, and 7 months will occur to determine if the child needs an 
additional visit to assess pain, lesion progression, AEs and UPs, etc. and to maintain contact with the 
participant. 
 
Randomization to 38% SDF application (treatment) or placebo (control) will be at the participant-level; 
all teeth within a participant that meet the inclusion criteria will receive the same trial product. Both 
treatment and control will be dispensed from identical unit-dose ampules coded and labelled to ensure 
masking of all trial personnel. The number of ampules required to treat all carious lesions in the 
participant’s mouth will be recorded. No caries removal will be performed. Lesions will be cleaned with a 
toothbrush or microbrush to remove food debris and gross visible plaque, and will be dried with 
cotton/gauze, and the solution will be painted on the dentin of each targeted cavitated lesion using a 
standardized applicator. Following application, the lesion will be blotted dry with gauze if excess fluid is 
present. 
 
At each clinical visit ICDAS examinations, including cavitated lesion hardness assessments, soft tissue 
assessments and questionnaires on dental discomfort, family impact and treatment satisfaction and 
acceptability will be collected. 


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5 TRIAL ENROLLMENT AND WITHDRAWAL 
5.1 
Participant Inclusion Criteria 
In order to be eligible to participate in this trial, participants must meet all of the following criteria: 
 
Child: 
 
Male or female, between 12-71 months of age at baseline, up to the day the child turns 6 years 
old.  
 
Must allow examination of the oral cavity and application of treatment by the examiners at 
baseline. 
 
Must have S-ECC  
[defined as: In children younger than age 3, any sign (non-cavitated or cavitated lesion) of 
caries in any tooth surface (i.e., most common for this age group will be on erupted smooth 
surfaces). From ages 3 through 5, ≥1 dmfs in maxillary anterior teeth; or a dmfs score of ≥4 
(age 3), ≥5 (age 4), or ≥6 (age 5) constitutes S-ECC. Note: The “d” component of the dmfs 
index is defined as including cavitated and non-cavitated lesions, thus ICDAS>1 (Appendix 
A)]. 
 
Have at least one SDF-target tooth with  
o Soft cavitated caries lesions extending into dentin [ICDAS 5 or 6 (Appendix A)];  
o Cavitated lesion(s) that allow for direct hardness assessment and application of SDF 
(microbrush applicator must fit the cavity and be able to access all exposed dentin). 
 
Parent/Legal Guardian: 
 
Provide written informed consent for the child and her/himself prior to participation. 
 
Must be at least 18 years old, or an emancipated minor who provides documentation of 
emancipation. 
 
Must be willing and able to participate in trial activities. 
 
5.2 
Participant Exclusion Criteria 
An individual who meets any of the following criteria will be excluded from participation in this trial: 
 
Child: 
 
Hereditary generalized developmental dental defects such as Amelogenesis Imperfecta and 
Dentinogenesis Imperfecta. 
 
Known allergy/sensitivity to silver or other heavy metal ions. 
 
Presence of any gingival or peri-oral ulceration, abscess or stomatitis.  
 
Participating in the foster care system at trial initiation. 
 
Toothache pain at baseline (based on Dental Discomfort Questionnaire score of 1 or higher 
(Appendix B). 
o Note: If toothache pain occurs after baseline, the child remains eligible to continue in the 
trial as long as he/she has at least one trial tooth that meets tooth inclusion/exclusion 
criteria. 
 
Demonstrated inability to comply with trial protocol requirements (determination is at the 
Clinical Site Investigator’s discretion). 
 
Rickets. 
 
Osteopenia or osteoporosis (e.g., Osteogenesis Imperfecta, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Marfan 
Syndrome, etc.). 
 
Chronic diseases such as chronic kidney disease, leukemia, lymphoma, rheumatic disorders, etc. 
 
Metabolic bone disease (e.g., Galactosemia, Glycogen Storage Disease Type 1, etc.). 


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 
Chronic glucocorticoid, anticonvulsants, chemotherapy, bisphosphonate administration. 
 
Hypothyroidism, hyperparathyroidism, impaired glucose tolerance, hypocalcemia or 
hypophosphatemia. 
 
Tooth:  
 
Pain due to caries at baseline (based on DDQ score of 1 or higher, Appendix B). 
o Note: If toothache pain occurs after baseline due to a trial tooth, the tooth is removed 
from the trial. 
 
Pulpal exposure, or signs of pulpal infection (abscess, fistula, swelling). 
 
Mobility not associated with expected exfoliation patterns. 
 
Parent/Legal Guardian: 
 
Demonstrated inability to comply with trial protocol requirements (determination is at the 
Clinical Site Investigator’s discretion). 
 
Inability to read and comprehend the consent document or trial questionnaires in the translated 
languages available. 
 
5.3 
Strategies for Recruitment and Retention 
5.3.1 
Recruitment 
The New York University site will focus on providing a population that is largely Hispanic and Asian, the 
Iowa site will provide a population primarily White, and the Michigan site will provide a large percentage 
of Black and Hispanic children. It is expected that a recruitment period of 4 years should be sufficient to 
approach and recruit the number of participants needed. Untreated caries rates in children age 24-60 
months nationwide are 10%, with 23% with some caries experience (Dye et al., 2015). Anderson et al 
(2010) reported 23% of children in Head Start programs in New Hampshire to have caries lesions that 
needed treatment (and thus were cavitated), and stated this was similar to the rest of the country. Based on 
preliminary experience, it is anticipated approximately half of these children with untreated caries will 
meet eligibility criteria for the trial. Thus, an approach: enroll ratio of 100:12 is estimated. To enroll 1,144 
children, an estimated 9,534 will be approached. 
 
Recruitment at a variety of school-based early childhood education programs, such as Head Start, Early 
Head Start, and city/state subsidized preschool programs, and clinics associated with the clinical sites, 
will help achieve a racially and ethnically diverse population.  
 
In the case of Head Start programs, children must present proof of a dental “examination” within 90 days 
of enrollment (generally September through November). This “examination” collects reportable data 
required for early childhood education programs on presence of untreated caries lesions (i.e., cavitated 
lesions) and caries experience (i.e., restorations). 
 
As this dental “examination” may occur during the school day when parents/legal guardians are not 
present, the trial teams will coordinate with schools so that when the “screening” results are sent home, 
trial information and invitation to schedule a baseline trial visit will be sent home with the child as well. 
Interested families can then return their contact information to the center or call the trial team. In addition, 
the trial team will request a waiver of consent and waiver of HIPAA from the IRB of record to use the 
pre-screening data to identify children with potentially-eligible carious lesions and to ask the early 
childhood education program to obtain their phone number to contact these families. 
 


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Once the trial team communicates with the family over the phone, they will provide a brief explanation of 
the trial and review trial inclusion/exclusion criteria. If the parent/guardian is interested in participating, a 
baseline trial visit will be scheduled.  
 
Some early childhood education program recruitment pre-screenings may also be arranged as part of 
health fairs on evenings or weekends to encourage parent/guardian attendance. Parents/guardians will be 
informed of the findings from the pre-screening. If pre-screenings are done when parents/guardians are 
present, parents/guardians of children with eligible lesions will be informed about the trial. If interested, 
and if the trial team is able to also be present, parents/guardian can undergo the informed consent process 
and complete trial questionnaires, and the child will be scheduled for a baseline trial visit. If time allows, 
a baseline visit could be performed, following the pre-screening, on the same day, at the same visit. In 
these cases, the FV that is normally applied at these examinations would not be applied that day, but the 
early childhood education center would be encouraged to plan this at a later date. 
 
To recruit from clinics associated with the trial sites, the trial team will utilize the waiver of consent and 
waiver of HIPAA from the IRB of record to review existing dental charts to identify children with 
potentially eligible carious lesions. Other clinical partners, such as pediatricians, may also refer 
potentially eligible children to the study team. The trial team will then contact these families to explain 
the trial and assess interest. 
 
A screening log maintained at each site (refer to Manual of Procedures) will record all participants who 
are approached to participate in the trial. Participants who decline to participate will not be approached 
again during the same school/calendar year, and the reason they declined will be recorded on the 
screening log. 
 
At regularly scheduled intervals, the approached-to-enrolled ratio will be examined along with the total 
number of enrolled pairs. These assessments will determine if recruitment goals are being met. If not, 
resources can be added and/or refocused on particular early childhood education programs or clinical sites 
to improve recruitment efforts. 
 
Participants will receive remuneration of $100 for completion of each of the following in-person visits: 
baseline, 3-, 6-, and 8-month. For completing the surveys associated with the in-person visits at baseline, 
3-, 6-, and 8-month, participants will receive $25 for each. For participation in the in-person 24- to 48-
hour safety visits, participants will receive $25 each. In addition, all participants will receive $25 for 
speaking with the trial team during each of the 1.5-, 4.5-, and 7-month Intermediate Contacts.  
 
 
Visit 
Remuneration 
In-person and surveys 
Baseline 
$125 
In-person 
24-48 h post baseline 
$25 
Contact 
1.5 Month 
$25 
In-person and surveys 
3 Month 
$125 
Contact 
4.5 Month 
$25 
In-person and surveys 
6 Month 
$125 
In-person 
24-48 h post 6 month 
$25 


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Contact 
7 Month 
$25 
In-person and surveys 
8 Month 
$125 
Total 
$625 
 
Finally, for ethical reasons, children will be monitored very closely during the trial, and the trial team will 
work with parents/legal guardians so appointments are in place for an immediate non-trial dental visit 
upon completion. Unscheduled trial visits will be performed to address dental emergency needs. Up to 
$30 will be provided for transportation/parking needed to attend those visits. Up to $250 will be provided, 
if needed, for emergency care costs of trial teeth.  
 
5.3.2 
Retention 
Attrition will be minimized by the short length of the trial and by following all participants through one 
school year, or equivalent if recruited from a clinic. Also, permission will be requested from the 
participants to allow the early childhood education program to contact the participant’s family if the trial 
team cannot. The trial team may also verify the participant contact information with the early childhood 
education program during the course of the trial. Parents/legal guardians will be asked to provide their 
address, email (if they have one), and up to 3 possible telephone numbers (e.g., home, work and cellular 
phone), as well as their preferred method of contact. In addition, they will be asked to provide 
names/telephone numbers, addresses and email, as well as the preferred method of contact (including text 
messages) for 3 individuals who know how to contact the parent/caregiver. Securing email addresses will 
also increase the likelihood of follow-up contact as these remain relatively constant.  
 
Intermediate contact with the primary caregiver will occur regularly by phone, email or mail between 
clinic visits to help increase retention. 
 
5.4 
Treatment Assignment Procedures 
Randomization will be stratified by site. Allocation to SDF/placebo will be 1:1. 
 
5.4.1 
Randomization Procedures  
The randomization schedule will be generated by a biostatistician. Biostatisticians who will be involved 
in the analyses will remain masked to the trial randomization. 
 
Randomization procedures are explained in more detail in the MOP and the Randomization Plan. 
 
5.4.2 
Masking Procedures 
To ensure concealment of treatment allocation, the identical ampules containing test and placebo product 
will be assigned sequential identification numbers. The master randomization schedule will not be broken 
until analyses of the data, or if requested by the DSMB for meetings or due to safety concerns. All trial 
product will be sealed and labeled as required by the FDA [Section 6.0]. 
 
The following steps are being taken to minimize issues associated with bias and masking: 1) Product will 
be concealed in identical unit-dose ampules, identified by identification numbers, and with liquids of 
equal color. 2) The trial personnel applying the concealed product at baseline and 6 months will be 
separate from the trial ICDAS examiner. 3) The parent/guardian, child, and trial caries examiners and trial 
team involved in any data collection will remain masked regarding trial group allocation. 4) The primary 
trial outcome (hardness) will be measured independently of the outcome of color (to acknowledge teeth 
can turn dark, and still remain soft) for all cavitated caries lesions (not only those included and treated in 
the trial). 


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5.4.3 
Breaking the Blind 
Randomization code assignment will be broken only under circumstances where participant safety is in 
question. The participant will be withdrawn from the trial upon breaking of the randomization 
assignment. 
 
Unmasking of individual subjects’ treatment assignments should occur only when knowledge will have a 
direct bearing on the medical treatment or evaluation of a subject. Whenever possible, the need to unmask 
should be discussed with the Grant PI and the NIDCR Medical Monitor prior to unmasking. Unmasking 
procedures are described in more detail in the MOP. 
 
A full account of the unmasking event will be recorded in the subject’s source document and eCRF, 
including the date and time of the unmasking, the reason for the decision to unmask, the extent of 
unmasking, and the name of the individual who made the decision to unmask. The treatment assignment 
should not be included in either the source document or the eCRF. 
 
In addition, as needed to meet regulatory reporting requirements, designated personnel may be unmasked 
to the treatment status of individual subjects. In this circumstance, and if there are no other concerns, 
neither the Grant PI, NIDCR Medical Monitor nor the site staff will be further unmasked to treatment 
status. 
 
5.5 
Participant Withdrawal 
5.5.1 
Reasons for Withdrawal 
Any participant who chooses to withdraw from the trial may do so. Verbal desire to voluntarily withdraw 
will be recorded in the participant’s trial file. Trial personnel may request that the participant notify in 
writing their request for withdrawal for documentation in the participant trial file. However, even if this 
written request is not received, record of the verbal withdrawal will suffice to ensure termination. 
 
Both the caries exam and the SDF/placebo application must be completed at the baseline visit; otherwise, 
the participant will be withdrawn from the trial by the Clinical Site Investigator. 
 
An investigator may terminate a trial participant’s participation in the trial if any clinical adverse event 
(AE), serious adverse event (SAE), unanticipated problem (UP), or other medical condition or situation 
occurs such that continued participation in the trial would not be in the best interest of the participant. 
 
5.5.2 
Handling of Participant Withdrawals or Participant Discontinuation of Trial 
Intervention 
Participants who notify the site either verbally or in writing of their desire to be withdrawn from the trial 
will be withdrawn. Data collected before the participant withdraws from the trial will not be removed 
from the research trial dataset and will be used in the trial analyses. The sponsor or the institution may 
stop participant involvement in this research trial at any time without consent for reasons including those 
listed in Section 5.6. Individual participants may be withdrawn if the investigator believes it is in the best 
interest of the participant. Any data collected and stored as part of the research trial may be destroyed 
without participant consent. 
 
Participants who are withdrawn will be referred to a local dentist for follow-up care. 
 
5.6 
Premature Termination or Suspension of Trial 
This trial may be suspended or prematurely terminated if there is sufficient reasonable cause. Written 
notification, documenting the reason for trial suspension or termination, will be provided by the 


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suspending or terminating party to the investigator, funding agency, the Investigational New Drug (IND) 
sponsor and regulatory authorities. If the trial is prematurely terminated or suspended, the Principal 
Investigator (PI) will promptly inform the sIRB and local IRBs and will provide the reason(s) for the 
termination or suspension. 
 
Circumstances that may warrant termination include, but are not limited to: 
 
 
Determination of unexpected, significant, or unacceptable risk to participants. 
 
Insufficient adherence to protocol requirements. 
 
Data that are not sufficiently complete and/or evaluable.  
 
Determination of trial futility. 
 
Trial meets early stopping rules. 


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6 TRIAL INTERVENTION 
6.1 
Trial Product Description 
Test Intervention: Advantage ArrestTM (Elevate Oral Care, LLC., West Palm Beach, FL).  
Placebo: Non-fluoridated deionized water provided by the manufacturer (Elevate Oral Care, LLC., West 
Palm Beach, FL). 
 
6.1.1 
Formulation, Packaging, and Labeling 
Thirty-eight percent silver diamine fluoride (SDF) Advantage ArrestTM and the placebo will be provided 
by the manufacturer (Elevate Oral Care, LLC.) in identical single use unit-dose ampules.  
 
The trial drug is an Aqueous Diamine Silver Fluoride [Ag(NH3) 2F], CAS # 34445-07-3, 38.3% to 43.2% 
weight/volume in purified water. The clear blue-tinted solution contains: 
CAS #  
Ingredient  
 
Percentage 
7440-22-4  
Silver (Ag)  
 
24 - 27 
1336-21-6  
Ammonia (NH3) 
7.5 - 11 
16984-48-8 
Fluoride (F) 
 
5 - 6 
7732-18-5  
Deionized Water 
<= 62.5 
3844-45-9 
FD&C Blue 1  
<1 
 
The placebo will be deionized water, also colored with the same blue colorant, in identical unit-dose 
ampules. The test and placebo ampules will be assigned codes. Each trial product or trial placebo ampule 
will be sealed and subsequently placed in a small plastic bag. Labeling will comply with the regulations 
for labeling of an investigational product (21 CFR Part 312.6). A certificate of analysis from the 
manufacturer will be obtained for each batch provided for use in the trial to confirm F and Ag 
concentrations of the test stock and the placebo. In addition, a certificate of analysis from the 
manufacturer will be obtained for Ag and F content of randomly selected and labeled ampules containing 
the drug and placebo, prior to clinical use. At the conclusion of the trial, the remaining stock of active 
drug will again be subjected by the manufacturer to confirmatory chemical analysis.  
 
The placebo will NOT have any of the caries active ingredients: Fluoride or silver compounds. 
 
6.1.2 
Product Storage and Stability 
The trial product and placebo will be stored in a dark, cool (40C-400C), dry place away from acids, 
alkaline materials, heat, and bleach. The containers will be stored in a locked, controlled, secure 
environment. Shelf life has been established by the manufacturer as 3 years. Access to the trial product 
and placebo will be limited to IRB-approved trial personnel only. Drug accountability (Section 6.4) will 
be closely monitored at each trial site. 
 
6.2 
Dosage, Preparation and Administration of Trial Product 
Teeth that meet the inclusion criteria will be assigned to SDF application (treatment) or placebo (control), 
following the manufacturer’s recommendations. No caries removal will be performed. Lesions will be 
cleaned with a toothbrush or microbrush to remove food debris and gross visible plaque, and dried with 
cotton/gauze, and the solution will be painted on the dentin of each targeted cavitated lesion using a 
standardized applicator. The amount used will be recorded as multiple ampules may be required to treat 
multiple carious lesions (up to 2 ampules-each containing approximately 100 μL, will be used per child, 
per application visit). 
  
Universal precautions will be followed to protect participants and clinicians from exposure to potentially 
infectious fluids and materials. 
 


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6.3 
Modification of Trial Product Administration for a Participant 
No modifications of trial product administration are anticipated as the lethal dose (LD50) of SDF 
subcutaneously ranges between 440 and 442 mg/kg. Each ampule contains a drop. One drop 
(approximately 100 μL) is ample material to treat several teeth, but for a child with S-ECC, 2 drops may 
be needed depending on the number of teeth to be treated. One drop of Advantage ArrestTM (38.3% to 
43.2% SDF) contains 38-43.2 mg SDF. Two drops would contain 76-86.4 mg SDF. Assuming children in 
this trial (1-5 years of age) weigh 10-18 kg (50th percentile based on the Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention growth curves), for a 10 kg child, and an SDF dose for 2 drops (maximum amount used per 
child per application visit) of 76-86.4 mg, the dose would be 7.6-8.6 mg/kg. Thus, the relative safety 
margin of using 2 entire drops on a 10 kg child is: 440 mg/kg subcutaneous LD50 /8.6 mg/kg dose = 51-
fold safety margin. As this trial will apply SDF at 2 separate visits, the total possible dose during the trial 
is doubled compared to the previous calculations, and the safety margin is 25.5-fold. 
 
6.4 
Accountability Procedures for the Trial Product 
Trial product and placebo will be shipped directly from the manufacturer to each of the 3 clinical trial 
sites. The product should be stored in a dark, cool (40C-400C), dry place away from acids, alkaline 
materials, heat, and bleach. There will be a manifest each time product is shipped, and a receipt/tracking 
record maintained at each clinical trial site. 
 
Investigational product accountability logs, including stock records and participant records, are to be 
utilized at each trial site for trial product accountability. Detailed instructions for product accountability 
will be contained within the MOP. 
 
6.5 
Concomitant Medications/Treatments 
The date of last FV treatment will be recorded at baseline, 1.5-, 3-, 4.5-, 6-, 7- and 8-month visits. FV will 
not be applied the same day as SDF; time between FV and SDF applications must be at least 12 hours. 
 
Concomitant medications associated with any adverse events which occur will be recorded. 
 


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7 TRIAL SCHEDULE 
 
 
 
 
 
Screening/Baseline 
24-48 Hour Contact 
24-48 Hour Visit 
1.5 Month Contact 
3 Month Visit 
4.5 Month Contact 
6 Month Visit 
24-48 Hour Contact 
24-48 Hour Visit 
7 Month Contact 
8 Month Visit 
Unscheduled Contact 
Unscheduled Visit 
Withdrawal Visit 
Informed Consent 
X 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Medical History 
X 
 
 
 
 
X 
X 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Oral Soft Tissue Exam 
X 
 
X 
 
X 
 
X 
 
X 
 
X 
 
X 
X 
ICDAS Exam 
X 
 
 
 
X 
 
X 
 
 
 
X 
 
 
X 
SDF/Placebo 
Application 
X 
 
 
 
 
 
X 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Photographs of Teeth 
X 
 
X 
 
X 
 
X 
 
X 
 
X 
 
X 
X 
Oral Hygiene/Diet 
Education 
X 
 
 
 
X 
 
X 
 
 
 
X 
 
 
X 
DDQ (Pain) 
X 
X 
 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
OHRQoL 
X 
 
 
 
X 
 
X 
 
 
 
X 
 
 
X 
Family Survey 
X 
X 
 
 
X 
 
X 
 
 
 
X 
 
 
X 
Adverse Events 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
FV History Check 
X 
 
 
X 
X 
X 
X 
 
 
X 
X 
 
 
X 
 
7.1 
Consenting Process 
Prior to the collection of any trial data, consent will be obtained by trained trial personnel. Parents or legal 
guardians will review the consent document with trained trial personnel. Parents or legal guardians will be 
allowed time to review the consent document and all questions will be answered before the parent or legal 
guardian consents to participate. Additionally, parents and guardians will be instructed that participation 
in this or any research trial is totally voluntary and deciding not to participate will not affect their ability 
to receive other examinations or future treatment through oral health clinics. The parent/legal guardian 
will be informed that they are consenting for their participation in the trial, as well as that of their child. 
Consent will be documented using IRB-approved and stamped consent forms. The consent process will 
be documented on a source document which ensures the steps of the consenting procedure have been 
followed.  
 
Consent forms will be translated by a translator into selected languages. In addition, trial personnel fluent 
in selected languages will be available at sites if needed.  
Baselin
e
(SDF /Placebo  
Applied)
24‐48 hr
Safety 
Contact/Visi
t
1.5 
Month 
Contact
3 
Month 
Visit
4.5 
Month 
Contact
6 
Month 
Visit
(SDF /Placebo 
Reapplied)
24‐48 hr
Safety 
Contact/Vis
it
7 Month 
Contact
8 
Month 
Visit
Baseline
Window ± 8 
hours
Window ± 10 
days
Window ± 19 
days
Window ± 10 
days
Window ± 19 
days
Window ± 8 
hours
Window ± 10 
days
Window ± 19 
days


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7.2 
Screening/Enrollment/Baseline 
Prior to the initiation of any trial procedures, the Site Coordinator will confirm written informed consent 
has been obtained from the parent/legal guardian, and confirm that the adult/child pair meets the 
eligibility criteria (except for tooth inclusion, which requires the ICDAS exam to be completed). 
 
The parent/guardian will be asked to complete a brief medical history for the child, and the trial 
questionnaires. This could occur on a day other than the ICDAS examination, but must occur after 
informed consent is obtained. 
 
The child will be examined by a calibrated trial examiner, who will be masked to treatment allocation and 
responses on the trial questionnaires. The examiner will review the medical history and the 
inclusion/exclusion criteria. After doing a soft tissue exam, teeth will be cleaned with a toothbrush to 
remove food debris and gross plaque, and a full mouth exam will be done using a clinical examination 
headlight, mirror, and cotton/gauze. The ICDAS examination will be conducted scoring the teeth for 
lesion severity and hardness/activity (Appendix A). Randomization will occur after the baseline ICDAS 
exam is completed and it is verified the child has eligible trial teeth. The parent/guardian, child and trial 
examiners/team will remain masked regarding trial group allocation. 
 
If the adult/child pair meets eligibility criteria, all teeth that meet the inclusion criteria will be targeted for 
treatment. Administration of the trial drug/placebo is detailed in Section 6.2 of the protocol as well as the 
MOP. Photographs may be taken of the child’s teeth/mouth but not including the face or other identifying 
features for illustration and publication purposes. Frankl score, a measurement of child behavior, will also 
be recorded. All children will receive advice on diet, brushing with a small amount of F toothpaste under 
supervision, and will receive a toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste. Parents will be advised not to use F 
toothpaste the evening after the application. 
 
Trial drug/placebo application will not be performed the same day the child is receiving a FV application 
as part of usual care; time between FV and SDF applications must be at least 12 hours. 
 
7.3 
Intermediate Visits 
7.3.1 
24- to 48-Hour Safety Contacts (±8 hours) 
All participants will be contacted 24- to 48-hours after the baseline and 6-month trial visits to inquire if 
any Adverse Events (AEs), Serious Adverse Events (SAEs), or Unanticipated Problems (UPs) have 
occurred. This could be via a phone call, email, text, etc., or in person, if possible. All events will be 
recorded and reported, and the child will be brought in for an unscheduled visit as required. Additionally, 
the four questions from the Family Survey which refer to treatment acceptability may be asked at this 
time. 
 
7.3.2 
24- to 48-Hour Safety Visits (±8 hours) 
In addition to the 24- to 48-hour safety contacts, a safety visit 24- to 48-hours following application of the 
trial drug/placebo will be available for each participant after the baseline and 6-month trial visits. An 
intraoral soft tissue examination, including examination of the gingiva, will be performed. The status of 
the intraoral soft tissues will be recorded, and children with an AE (e.g., gingival irritation), SAE, or UP 
will be monitored until resolution of the problem or referred for treatment, if necessary. Refer to 
Appendix E and the MOP for additional details. 
 
7.3.3 
1.5-, 4.5-, 7-Month Intermediate Contacts (±10 days) 
Intermediate contacts will occur approximately 1.5, 4.5, and 7 months post baseline, and will allow the 
trial team to ask brief questions to inquire if any AEs, SAEs, or UPs have occurred, in addition to 
administering the tooth pain questionnaire to determine if an unscheduled trial visit is necessary to 


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evaluate the child. Additionally, medical conditions may be updated at the 4.5 month intermediate contact 
in order to confirm eligibility for the second application of SDF/placebo at the 6 month visit. These 
contacts will occur by a variety of strategies, including via phone, email, online survey, etc. The contacts 
will help to enhance retention. 
 
All AEs, SAEs, and UPs will be recorded and reported. Trial teeth that cause pain due to caries, pulpal 
exposure, mobility, signs of pulpal infection (abscess, fistula, swelling) will be exited from the trial and 
referred for appropriate care (early exit strategy), and will be considered treatment failures in the 
analysis of the efficacy outcome. 
 
7.3.4 
Three-Month Visit (±19 days) 
Trial participants will be asked to attend a trial visit at the early childhood education program or a central 
location (may vary by trial site)  approximately 3 months post-baseline. This visit will include: an 
intraoral soft tissue oral exam, a full-mouth ICDAS exam, including an assessment of color and hardness 
of all cavitated lesions (regardless of whether included or not in the trial), potential photographs of the 
child’s teeth/mouth but not including the face or other identifying features for illustration purposes, 
assessment of AEs, SAEs, and UPs, recording Frankl behavior score, and trial questionnaire completion 
by the parent/legal guardian. If the parents/guardians are not in attendance, parents will be contacted via 
preferred contact method to obtain questionnaire responses. If a trial tooth meets the criteria for an “early 
exit strategy”, it will be exited from the trial and referred to appropriate follow-up care. The tooth will be 
considered a treatment failure in the analysis of the primary endpoint. All children will receive written 
advice to take home on diet, brushing with a small amount of fluoridated toothpaste under supervision, 
and will receive a toothbrush and fluoridated toothpaste. 
 
7.3.5 
Six-Month Visit (±19 days) 
Trial participants will attend a trial visit at the early childhood education program or a central location 
(may vary by trial site) approximately 6 months post-baseline. This visit will be identical to the 3-Month 
Visit described in 7.4.4, but in addition, medical history will be either re-assessed or reviewed from the 
4.5 month contact to confirm eligibility and then the SDF/placebo will be re-applied to all cavitated trial 
lesions. Data from the 6-month visit will be used to assess the primary outcome of the trial. 
 
7.4 
Final Trial Visit: 8 Months (±19 days) 
Trial participants will be asked to attend a final trial visit at the early childhood education program or a 
central location (may vary by trial site) approximately 8 months post-baseline. This visit will be identical 
to the 3-Month Visit described in 7.3.4. Additionally, final assessment of the treated teeth will be 
provided to the family. Follow-up care referrals will be facilitated by the trial team. 
 
7.5 
Withdrawal Visit 
A withdrawal visit will occur for participants who withdraw or are withdrawn from the trial. The 
withdrawal visit will mirror the 8-month trial visit. If a participant cannot or will not attend the 
withdrawal visit, this information will be recorded. 
 
7.6 
Unscheduled Visit 
In the event there are signs (abscess, fistula, and swelling) or symptoms (pain) of infection at any point, 
an unscheduled visit will be offered to the parent/legal guardian and child by the trial team. A clinically-
warranted examination will be conducted, an assessment for AEs will be performed, and the participant 
will be referred for treatment if necessary. AEs will be reported per IRB guidelines. 
 


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7.7 
Unscheduled Contact 
Parents/legal guardians of trial children will be instructed to contact the trial team if they have any 
concerns at any point in the trial (e.g., believe their child is in pain). When the parent contacts the trial 
team, an assessment for AEs will be performed, the DDQ will be collected, and the participant will be 
scheduled for an unscheduled visit as necessary. AEs will be reported per IRB guidelines. 
 


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8 TRIAL PROCEDURES / EVALUATIONS 
8.1 
Trial Procedures/Evaluations 
8.1.1 
Clinical Examination 
A clinical assessment will be conducted with each child participant. This will consist of the following. 
 
 
Teeth: A full mouth ICDAS examination will be conducted, and lesion hardness will be assessed 
using the ICDAS II system activity criteria for lesions with score ICDAS 5-6. See Appendix A. 
 
 
Intraoral soft tissues: The intraoral soft tissues will be examined for pathology and signs of 
infection. For details refer to the MOP. The clinical criteria for odontogenic infection are the 
presence of swelling, dental abscess, or a draining sinus in the tissue closely surrounding the 
tooth. Assessments for odontogenic infection or other intraoral infections are made at each 
clinical trial visit and unscheduled/emergency visit. Assessment of mucosal irritancy will be 
made by the trial examiner or hygienist, using a modification of an oral mucositis scale developed 
for radiation-induced mucositis (Sonis et al., 1999).  
 
8.1.2 
Questionnaires 
 
Medical history will be assessed at baseline and reviewed at approximately 6 months or between 
4.5 and 6 months. 
 
 
Assessments for tooth pain are to be made at each trial visit throughout the child’s participation in 
the trial using the Dental Discomfort Questionnaire (DDQ) (Appendix B; Versloot et al., 2006), 
to be completed by the parent/guardian. More details are provided next: Given that pain is a 
subjective experience, pain in general is most reliably measured using self-report (FACES pain 
scale and Wong-Baker FACES scale) in children (Hicks et al., 2001; Baretto et al., 2004; 
Versloot et al., 2004). Assessing pain in preschoolers presents special challenges, as their 
cognitive capacities are still under-developed making it difficult for them to communicate 
verbally, and consequently reliably self-report pain. To avoid inaccurate assessment of pain in 
very young children, it is recommended to use a validated observational tool that assesses pain as 
reported by parents/legal guardians as proxies based on the observation of pain-related behaviors 
by the child. The DDQ (Appendix B; Versloot et al., 2006), a behavioral observation tool 
developed and validated to recognize toothache in children aged 5 or younger, focuses on 
toothache-related pain behaviors.  
 
This validated questionnaire consists of two parts. The first part includes a question concerning 
the occurrence of toothache. This question can be answered with: ‘never’, ‘sometimes’, ‘often’ or 
‘I do not know’. If the parent answers ‘sometimes’ or ‘often’, they are asked when. Choices 
include: either during meals, during daytime or nighttime (several alternatives possible). The 
second part of the DDQ consists of 8 validated questions about different behaviors associated 
with toothache or discomfort due to caries (e.g., crying during meals or chewing problems). For 
each item the parent is asked to rate how often their child shows a given specific behavior. The 
questions can be answered on a three-point scale: 0 ‘never’, 1 ‘sometimes’, and 2 ‘often’. 
According to Versloot et al. (2006), 70% of children with cavities and toothache had a DDQ 
score of 4 or higher, and the average score for these children was 5.73.  However, for ethical 
reasons in this study, any complaint of toothache pain (DDQ score of 1 or higher) will result in 
the study team attempting an unscheduled visit to examine the child to assess whether the tooth 
still meets eligibility criteria for  the trial or needs referral for care. 
 


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Assessments for presence of pain and level of pain (score of the DDQ) will be made at each trial 
visit, intermediate contact, and unscheduled/emergency visit in the trial using the DDQ. The total 
number of pain episodes associated with trial teeth per child will be assessed. 
 
 
Systemic effects/allergic reaction will be assessed at each trial visit and interim trial contact, 
either by examiner observation or by soliciting information from parents about the following 
adverse events: nausea, not eating, vomiting, difficulty swallowing or breathing, swelling around 
the lips or skin of the face, itchiness around the lips or skin of the face, hives or rash, stomach 
ache, or diarrhea. 
 
 
OHRQoL will be measured at the baseline, 3-, 6-, and 8-month trial visits throughout 
participation in the trial. Parents/guardians will be asked to complete a 16-item Parental-
Caregiver Perception Questionnaire (P-CPQ) and an 8-item Family Impact Scale (FIS) 
questionnaire (Thomson et al., 2013; Appendix C). The rationale is that for children under six 
years of age, the use of simple child-completed scales, or questionnaires completed by 
parents/legal guardians as proxies, is the usual approach. Parents/legal guardians will be asked to 
complete the 16-item P-CPQ and 8-item FIS questionnaire. These measures have been found to 
be reliable, valid and responsive in children with severe-ECC, and help measure different aspects 
of the oral health condition. The P-CPQ estimates the nature and magnitude of the effects of the 
condition on the child’s OHRQoL, considering not just pain, but the impact on their overall well-
being (e.g., how they eat, play with others/socialize, look/teeth appearance, etc.). The FIS enables 
determination of the impact of the child’s condition on the family. These scores will be compared 
at each trial visit against an accepted single-item (global) self-rating or overall well-being 
question, which serves as a summary measure of the same construct. In addition, a global 
transition judgment question will be included at follow-up visits for assessing the responsiveness 
of these measures to SDF treatment in children with ECC (Locker et al., 2004). For details see 
Appendix C. 
 
 
The Family Survey (Appendix D) including questions about treatment acceptability and 
satisfaction will be completed at baseline/24-48 hour contacts/visits, and 3-, 6-, and 8-month trial 
visits.  Satisfaction with treatment will be assessed using a well-validated tool (the Post-Surgical 
Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire; Kiyak et al.,1984); and in addition, the Client Satisfaction 
Questionnaire (which is an 8-item, easily administered and scored instrument designed to assess 
client satisfaction with services) which has been adapted for this project (Larsen et al., 1979; 
Attkisson and Zwick, 1982). A question will be asked after the placement of SDF/placebo 
regarding the acceptability of the treatment (i.e., was the treatment tolerated by the child), as there 
is evidence that different types of treatment may influence children’s behavior and perceptions of 
their dental treatment (Santamaria et al., 2015). 
 


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9 ASSESSMENT OF SAFETY 
 
9.1 
Specification of Safety Parameters 
Parameters used to assess safety will include AEs spontaneously reported by the participant or observed 
by the investigator, solicited AEs captured by interviewing the child’s parent or legal guardian, and events 
recorded from oral cavity examination. All AEs will be coded by system organ class and preferred term 
according to the terminology of the Medical Dictionary for Regulatory Activities (MedDRA). 
 
Monitoring of AEs will be conducted throughout the trial. All AEs, SAEs, and UPs will be captured any 
time after informed consent is obtained. In addition, all AEs will be captured until 7 days after the last day 
of trial participation. Serious adverse events (SAEs) will be captured until 30 days after trial participation. 
SAEs will be reported to the IND sponsor and to NIDCR within 24 hours of becoming aware of the event. 
Safety events will be reported to the sIRB according to their policies and guidelines. AEs will be followed 
until they are resolved, considered stable, the subject is lost to follow-up, or the AE is otherwise 
explained. 
 
Cavitated caries lesions will have signs of progressing infection (e.g., abscess, fistula, etc.) recorded. 
Gingival tissue irritation (e.g., ulcerations and mucosal erythema, leukoplakia or darkening of 
pigmentation) will also be recorded. In addition we will record observed or reported: nausea, not eating, 
vomiting, difficulty swallowing or breathing, swelling around the lips or skin of the face, itchiness around 
the lips or skin of the face, hives or rash, stomach ache; or diarrhea. 
 
Potential adverse reactions to the trial drug include 
 
Infection: Infection will be defined by changes in clinical signs (from examination) over time in 
each trial arm. The clinical criteria for the positive recording of infection are the clinical presence 
of swelling, dental abscess, or fistula. Assessments for infection are made at each clinical trial 
visit and unscheduled/emergency visit. (See Appendix E). 
 
Mucosal irritancy: children in each group experiencing gingival erythema, ulcerations, etc. will 
be recorded (See Section 8.1.1 and Appendix E).  
 
Systemic effects/allergic reaction: children in each group reported or observed to have: nausea, 
not eating, vomiting, difficulty swallowing or breathing, swelling around the lips or skin of the 
face, itchiness around the lips or skin of the face, hives or rash, stomach ache, or diarrhea (See 
Appendix E). 
 
9.1.1 
Adverse Events 
An adverse event is any untoward or unfavorable medical occurrence in a human subject, including any 
abnormal sign (for example, abnormal physical exam or laboratory finding), symptom, or disease, 
temporally associated with the participant’s participation in the research, whether or not considered 
related to the participant’s participation in the research. 
 
9.1.2 
Serious Adverse Events 
A serious adverse event (SAE) is an AE one that meets one or more of the following criteria: 
 
Results in death 
 
Is life-threatening (places the participant at immediate risk of death from the event as it occurred) 
 
Results in inpatient hospitalization or prolongation of existing hospitalization 
 
Results in a persistent or significant disability or incapacity 
 
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 
An important medical event that may not result in death, be life threatening, or require 
hospitalization may be considered an SAE when, based upon appropriate medical judgment, the 
event may jeopardize the participant and may require medical or surgical intervention to prevent 
one of the outcomes listed in this definition. 
 
9.1.3 
Unanticipated Problems 
The Office for Human Research Protections (OHRP) considers unanticipated problems involving risks to 
participants or others to include, in general, any incident, experience, or outcome that meets all of the 
following criteria: 
 
 
unexpected in terms of nature, severity, or frequency given (a) the research procedures that are 
described in the protocol-related documents, such as the IRB-approved research protocol and 
informed consent document; and (b) the characteristics of the participant population being 
studied; 
 
related or possibly related to participation in the research (“possibly related” means there is a 
reasonable possibility that the incident, experience, or outcome may have been caused by the 
procedures involved in the research); and 
 
suggests that the research places participants or others at a greater risk of harm (including 
physical, psychological, economic, or social harm) than was previously known or recognized. 
 
9.2 
Time Period and Frequency for Event Assessment and Follow-Up 
Adverse events will be followed until they have resolved, are considered stable, the participant is lost to 
follow-up, or the AE is otherwise explained. Phone calls or extra visits may be performed to follow up the 
AE. The participant will be questioned on the AE and whether it continues or is resolved at the time of the 
trial visit, and whether the participant received any treatment or medications specifically for the AE. The 
AE data will be updated and a follow-up report will be submitted to the IND Sponsor, NIDCR, and the 
sIRB according to the requirements of each. 
 
At the last scheduled visit, the investigator will instruct each participant to report any subsequent event(s) 
that the participant, or the participant’s personal physician, believes might reasonably be related to 
participation in this trial. The investigator will notify the IND sponsor, NIDCR, and the sIRB of any death 
or AE occurring at any time after a participant has discontinued or terminated trial participation, if the 
death or AE may reasonably be related to this trial. 
 
9.3 
Characteristics of an Adverse Event 
All AEs must be graded for relationship to trial product, expectedness, and severity. 
 
9.3.1 
Relationship to Trial Intervention 
The clinician’s assessment of an AE's relationship to test article is part of the documentation process, but 
it is not a factor in determining what is or is not recorded in the trial database. If there is any doubt as to 
whether a clinical observation is an AE, the event should be recorded. All AEs will be recorded and 
reported periodically to the DSMB, NIDCR, and IND sponsor, and only those which meet the definition 
of an unanticipated problem will be reported to the sIRB within 5 days. All AEs must have their 
relationship to trial product assessed using the following terms: 
 
1. Related (Possible, Probable, Related) 
a. The event is known to occur with the trial intervention. 
b. There is a temporal relationship between the intervention and event onset. 
c. The event abates when the intervention is discontinued. 


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d. The event reappears upon a re-challenge with the intervention. 
 
2. Not Related (Unlikely, Not Related) 
a. There is no temporal relationship between the intervention and event onset. 
b. An alternate etiology has been established. 
 
9.3.2 
Expectedness of AEs 
The Trial PI will be responsible for determining whether an AE is expected or unexpected. An adverse 
event will be considered unexpected if the nature, severity, or frequency of the event is not consistent 
with the risk information previously described for the intervention. 
 
9.3.3 
Severity of Event 
Severity of AEs will be graded according to the following scale: 
 
Mild: no intervention required; no impact on activities of daily living 
 
Moderate: minimal, local, or noninvasive intervention indicated; moderate impact on activities of 
daily living 
 
Severe: significant symptoms requiring invasive intervention; participant seeks medical attention, 
needs major assistance with activities of daily living. This also includes events that are considered 
life-threatening or may result in death.  
 
9.4 
Reporting Procedures 
 
9.4.1 
Unanticipated Problem Reporting to IRB and NIDCR 
Incidents or events that meet the OHRP criteria for unanticipated problems require the creation and 
completion of an unanticipated problem report form. OHRP recommends that investigators include the 
following information when reporting an adverse event, or any other incident, experience, or outcome as 
an unanticipated problem to the IRB: 
 
 
appropriate identifying information for the research protocol, such as the title, investigator’s 
name, and the IRB project number; 
 
a detailed description of the adverse event, incident, experience, or outcome;  
 
an explanation of the basis for determining that the adverse event, incident, experience, or 
outcome represents an unanticipated problem;  
 
a description of any changes to the protocol or other corrective actions that have been taken or are 
proposed in response to the unanticipated problem. 
 
To satisfy the requirement for prompt reporting, unanticipated problems that are not SAEs will be 
reported using the following timeline: 
 
 
Unanticipated problems will be reported to the sIRB within 5 days of the investigator becoming 
aware of the event.  
 
All unanticipated problems should be reported to appropriate institutional officials (as required by 
an institution’s written reporting procedures), the supporting agency head (or designee), and 
OHRP within one month of the IRB’s receipt of the report of the problem from the investigator. 
 
Concurrently with reporting to the IRB, all unanticipated problems will be reported to the NIDCR via 
Rho Product Safety (EDC notification).  
 


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General questions about UP reporting to the NIDCR can be directed to the Rho Product Safety Help Line 
(available 8:00AM – 5:00PM Eastern Time):   
 
US:  1-888-746-7231 
 
International: 919-595-6486 
 
In the event EDC is not available, the site Investigator should call Rho Product Safety to report the event, 
then submit a paper UP form via email or fax. Once EDC is operational, the Investigator is to enter the 
UP data into the EDC system within 24 hours of regained functionality.   
9.4.2 
Serious Adverse Event Reporting to IND Sponsor and NIDCR 
Any AE meeting the specified Serious Adverse Event criteria, whether related or unrelated, will be 
communicated to the IND sponsor via telephone within 24 hours of site awareness: 
 
SAE Reporting Contact Information: 
 
 
IND Sponsor: 206-251-6831  
 
Concurrently with reporting to the IND Sponsor, the Investigator will submit an SAE form (eCRF) to the 
NIDCR via Rho Product Safety (EDC notification). Once submitted, Rho Product Safety will send a 
confirmation email to the investigator within 1 business day. The Investigator should contact Rho Product 
Safety if this confirmation is not received. This process applies to both initial and follow-up SAE reports. 
 
In the event EDC is not available, the site Investigator should call Rho Product Safety to report the event, 
then submit a paper SAE form via email or fax. Once EDC is operational, the Investigator is to enter the 
SAE data into the EDC system within 24 hours of regained functionality.   
 
SAE Reporting Contact Information: 
 
 
Product Safety Fax Line (US):  1-888-746-3293 
 
Product Safety Fax Line (International):  919-287-3998 
 
Product Safety Email:  rho_productsafety@rhoworld.com  
 
General questions about SAE reporting to the NIDCR can be directed to the Rho Product Safety Help 
Line (available 8:00AM – 5:00PM Eastern Time): 
 
 
US:  1-888-746-7231 
 
International: 919-595-6486 
 
All SAEs will be followed until resolution or stabilization. 
 
9.4.3 
Reporting of Safety Events to FDA 
Following notification from the investigator, the IND sponsor will notify FDA of any unexpected fatal or 
life-threatening suspected adverse reaction within 7 calendar days after the sponsor's initial receipt of the 
information. The IND sponsor will notify the FDA and all investigators of 1) serious, unexpected 
suspected adverse reactions, 2) findings from other clinical, animal or in-vitro studies that suggest 
significant human risk, and 3) a clinically important increase in the rate of a serious suspected adverse 
reaction no later than 15 calendar days after determining that the information qualifies for reporting. All 
serious events designated as “not related” to trial product will be reported to the FDA at least annually in 
a summary format. 


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9.5 
Halting Rules 
An adverse event graded as severe that is considered to be related to trial participation will be 
immediately reported to the Medical Monitor and will trigger an immediate investigation to determine the 
next steps for the child and/or trial.    
 
The trial may be stopped early if interim analyses provide early determination of efficacy or futility. 
Sample size calculations account for the use of an early stopping rule based on efficacy or futility. The 
interim analysis will be performed after approximately half of the sample has completed the 6-month 
visit.  
 
 


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10 TRIAL OVERSIGHT 
In addition to the PI’s responsibility for oversight, trial oversight will be under the direction of a Data and 
Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) composed of members with appropriate expertise in pediatric 
dentistry, pediatrics, statistics, ethics, and other scientific disciplines. Members will be appointed by 
NIDCR. A copy of the DSMB charter will be provided to the FDA. The DSMB will meet at least 
annually to assess safety and efficacy data, trial progress, and data integrity for the trial. If safety or data 
integrity concerns arise, more frequent meetings may be held. The DSMB will operate under the rules of 
an NIDCR-approved charter that will be approved at the organizational meeting of the DSMB. The 
DSMB will provide recommendations to the NIDCR. 
 
 


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11 CLINICAL SITE MONITORING 
Clinical site monitoring is conducted to ensure that the rights of human subjects are protected, that the 
trial is implemented in accordance with the protocol and/or other operating procedures, and that the 
quality and integrity of trial data and data collection methods are maintained. Monitoring for this trial will 
be performed by a monitor from Rho, Inc. as a subcontract from NIDCR. The monitor will evaluate trial 
processes and documentation based on NIDCR standards and the International Conference on 
Harmonisation (ICH), E6: Good Clinical Practice guidelines (GCP). 
 
Details of clinical site monitoring will be documented in a Clinical Monitoring Plan (CMP) developed by 
Rho, Inc., in collaboration with the NIDCR Office of Clinical Trials and Operations Management 
(OCTOM) and the NIDCR Program Official. The CMP will specify the frequency of monitoring, 
monitoring procedures, the level of clinical site monitoring activities (e.g., the percentage of participant 
data to be reviewed), and the distribution of monitoring reports. Some monitoring activities may be 
performed remotely, while others will take place at the trial site(s). The Rho monitor will conduct 
monitoring activities and provide reports of the findings and associated action items in accordance with 
the details described in the CMP. Documentation of monitoring activities and findings will be provided to 
the site trial team, the trial PIs, OCTOM, and the NIDCR. The NIDCR reserves the right to conduct 
independent audits as necessary. 


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12 STATISTICAL CONSIDERATIONS 
Detailed statistical procedures, listings, table shells, and figures will be provided in a separate Statistical 
Analysis Plan (SAP) that will be finalized before trial close-out and database lock. 
 
12.1 
Trial Hypotheses 
The Primary Hypothesis: 
o 38% Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF) will arrest cavitated caries lesions (ICDAS 5 or 6) in primary 
teeth, measured by a change in dentin hardness, without a change in ICDAS severity score, after a 
single application (measured at approximately 6 months post initial application). This occurs as a 
result of the halting of the caries disease process, which occurs very soon after application of SDF 
due to its strong antimicrobial and remineralizing properties. 
 
The Secondary Hypotheses: 
o 38% Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF) will arrest a greater proportion of cavitated caries lesions 
(ICDAS 5 or 6) in primary teeth after two applications, approximately 6 months apart (measured 
at approximately 8 months after initial SDF application). 
o Lesions arrested approximately 3 months after a single application will remain stable when re-
assessed at approximately 6 months. 
o 38% Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF) will decrease the proportion of children in pain, number of 
pain episodes associated with treated teeth for children, and pain score associated with treated 
teeth. The hypothesis is that SDF will do this as it is an anti-hypersensitivity agent, extremely 
efficient at blocking dentinal tubules, and also because it can arrest cavitated lesions, and thus 
decrease pain. 
 
The Tertiary Hypotheses: 
o 38% Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF) will increase Oral Health-Related Quality of Life 
(OHRQoL) as a result of decreasing pain and arresting caries lesions. 
o 38% Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF) will be an acceptable treatment by parents/guardians of 
young children. 
 
12.2 
Sample Size Considerations 
The population will be children 12-71 months of age at the baseline caries examination attending early 
childhood education programs or recruited from clinics associated with the Michigan, Iowa or New York 
clinical trial sites. We anticipate 10% attrition over the trial period, as we will follow children over 
approximately 8 months. 
 
The primary outcome of this trial is the proportion of arrested caries lesions approximately 6 months from 
the baseline visit (i.e., lesions that have changed from soft to hard over the trial period according to the 
ICDAS II activity criteria). A 10% difference in the proportion of arrested caries lesions between the SDF 
and placebo groups will be considered clinically significant. Prior studies in the literature of SDF using 
this outcome in primary cavitated lesions have shown a wide range for the proportion of arrested caries 
lesions for both SDF-treated and placebo-treated or untreated lesions; therefore the 10% difference in 
proportions was calculated assuming 55% versus 45% arrested caries lesions for SDF compared to 
placebo. In prior studies, an average of 4 lesions was treated per participant, with a within-participant 
correlation of 0.5; we are conservatively assuming 3 lesions per participant. The sample size calculations 
used a 2-sided test for a difference in proportions with cluster randomization (participant as the cluster) at 
significance level α=0.1%, with 80% power to detect a superiority difference of 10% for SDF compared 
to placebo. The calculations also account for the use of an early stopping rule for efficacy and futility. The 
interim analysis will be performed after approximately half of the sample has completed the 6-month 


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examinations. A Lan-Demets spending function with an O’Brien-Fleming type boundary will be used, 
with p-values for efficacy at 0.000001709 and 0.00099938 at 50% and 100% completion, respectively. 
Non-binding p-values for stopping due to futility at 50% and 100% completion will be 0.2336928 and 
0.00099938, respectively. With the above assumptions, the trial will require 1144 participants to be 
enrolled. Sample size calculations were made using East version 6. 
 
Sample size for the 24-48 h post-treatment safety visit is justified based on the 95% upper bound for the 
difference in ‘safety event’ between SDF and control. Erythema and ‘adverse event’ rate in previous 
studies are around 10-15% in the controls. Thus, assuming no safety difference between the two groups, 
and events occurring in 15% of the participants, the study sample will produce an upper bound for the 
difference at most 4% above the observed difference. Sample size calculations were made using PASS 
13. 
 
12.3 
Planned Interim Analyses 
Interim Analyses: A masked interim analysis of the primary study outcome will be performed after 
approximately half of the sample has completed the 6-month examination. A Lan-Demets spending 
function with an O’Brien-Fleming type boundary will be used, with p-values for efficacy at 0.000001709 
and 0.00099938 at 50% and 100% completion, respectively. Non-binding p-values for stopping due to 
futility at 50% and 100% completion will be 0.2336928 and 0.00099938, respectively. 
 
12.3.1 
Safety & Efficacy Review 
Safety-related stopping rules for the trial as outlined in Section 9.5 would occur due to participant safety 
concerns.  
 
The trial may be terminated for early efficacy or futility based on the results of an interim analysis, as 
described in the Statistical Analysis Plan. The interim analysis will be conducted after approximately half 
of the participants have completed the 6-month examination. 
 
The DSMB, NIDCR, and IRBs would be consulted regarding stopping the trial. 
 
12.4 
Final Analysis Plan 
We will consider all relevant biological variables (e.g., gender, race/ethnicity, and age) in the analyses. 
The initial analyses will involve exploration of the data. Continuous variables may be transformed or 
categorized based on the observed distribution. Categorical variable response categories may be collapsed 
due to small sample sizes. Whether race and ethnicity are analyzed separately or as a single variable 
depends upon whether the Hispanics in the trial are primarily White or if they also include Black 
Hispanics. Because randomization is stratified by trial site, trial site will be included as a covariate in all 
analyses. 
 
Aim 1 (Cavitated caries lesion arrest at 6 months follow-up): The proportion of arrested cavities at the 6-
month visit will be compared between the SDF and placebo-treated groups first using a generalized 
estimating equation (GEE) model for binary outcomes, using an exchangeable correlation to account for 
possible non-independence among multiple cavities within a participant. Trial site will be included as a 
covariate. 
 
Secondary analyses of the proportion of arrested lesions will extend the GEE model for binary outcomes 
to include covariates and their interactions with the treatment effect; covariates will include race/ethnicity, 
gender, age, trial site, initial ICDAS score, tooth location (anterior/posterior; as there are some data in the 
literature to suggest a difference in SDF efficacy) and number of affected teeth. Interactions of the 


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covariates with treatment will be explored to examine the results for differential treatment effects. 
However, the analyses are not specifically powered to detect these interactions.  
 
Note: As this trial may enroll siblings, at the time of analyses we intend to explore the correlations within 
participants and correlations between siblings to aid in determining the appropriate modeling technique to 
use. As described above the current analysis plan uses GEE models to account for correlations among 
multiple cavities within a participant. The GEEs could be extended to account for siblings by correlating 
all cavities within a family, rather than within a participant. However, this assumes the same within 
family correlation. An alternative approach is to account for the two levels of correlations (cavities within 
participants, participants within families) by switching the analyses to use generalized linear mixed 
models (GLMM) instead of GEE. One difficulty we anticipate with a switch to GLMM is estimation of 
the random effects – the number of families with enrolled siblings may not be large enough to properly 
estimate the two random effects within the GLMMs. 
 
Aim 2 (Cavitated caries lesion arrest at 8 months follow-up): The same GEE model for binary outcomes 
as used for Aim 1 will be used to compare the proportion of arrested lesions at approximately 8-months to 
examine Aim 2. 
 
Sub-Aim 2a (Compare the effect of one application of 38% SDF at 3 and 6 months follow-up on caries 
lesion arrest): A longitudinal (repeated measures) model for binary data that incorporates both the 
correlation within each subject at each time and across the time points will be used to compare the 
proportion of arrested caries lesions at approximately 3 and 6 months. Trial site will be included as a 
covariate. 
 
Aim 3 and Sub-Aim 3a (pain): At the 3-, 6-, and 8-month visits, the proportion of participants who have 
experienced pain with treated teeth during the follow-up period will be compared between the SDF and 
placebo-treated groups using Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel chi-square tests, with trial sites as the strata. 
 
The total number of episodes of pain associated with trial teeth per participant (calculated by adding all 
reports of pain throughout the trial verified by a clinical exam to be associated with a trial tooth) during 
the follow-up period will be compared between the SDF and placebo treated groups using generalized 
linear models (GLMs) for count data, with trial site included as a covariate. The DDQ score will be 
compared between groups using analysis of covariance at each follow-up visit, with trial site included as a 
covariate. 
 
Additional GLMs for binary and count outcomes and analysis of covariance models for continuous 
outcomes, as appropriate for each outcome above, will analyze the effects of covariates and their 
interactions with the treatment effect. 
 
Aim 4 (Family-level outcomes): The P-CPQ, FIS, and satisfaction and acceptability scores will be 
compared between the SDF and placebo-treated groups using analysis of covariance, with trial site 
included as a covariate . 
 
Additional analyses will consider the effects of covariates and their interactions with the treatment effect. 
 
Changes in the color of treated lesions over time will be compared between treatments using a Cochran-
Mantel-Haenszel chi-square test, with trial sites as the strata. 
 


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The family’s experiences with ECC, child’s brushing and dietary habits, and color change will be 
examined as additional covariates for the analyses of satisfaction and acceptability scores.  
 
Safety: The proportion of infected trial teeth at each visit will be compared between the SDF and placebo-
treated groups using a generalized estimating equation (GEE) model for binary outcomes, using an 
exchangeable correlation to account for possible non-independence among multiple teeth within a 
participant. Trial site will be included as a covariate. 
 
The proportion of participants with adverse events (gum infection, oral mucositis, allergic reaction, 
anaphylaxis, nausea, vomiting, gastrointestinal pain, diarrhea; individually and the presence of any of the 
events) during the follow-up period will be compared between the SDF and placebo-treated groups using 
Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel chi-square tests, with trial sites as the strata. 
 
12.4.1 
Analysis populations 
The primary analysis will be conducted using the intent-to-treat (ITT) population. The ITT population 
will include all randomized subjects. Analyses will also be performed using the per-protocol (PP) 
population. The PP population will be limited to subjects who complete all dental examinations and 
surveys/questionnaires for the baseline, 3-month, 6-month, and 8-month visits within the specified study 
windows and complete the intermediate contacts at 1.5, 4.5, and 7 months within the specified study 
windows.  
12.4.2 
Missing data 
As noted in Section 5.5, any lesions removed from the trial due to the “early exit strategy” will be 
considered to be treatment failures – non-arrest of the lesion and presence of pain and/or infection 
requiring removal of the tooth from the study – and not considered to be missing data. 
 
The primary method for handling missing data will be to use a multiple imputation analysis, with 
imputations based on race/ethnicity, gender, age, trial site, initial ICDAS score, tooth location, treatment, 
and most recent prior visit results will be performed. Twenty-five imputed datasets will be created, and 
results will be combined using standard methods. 
 
A sensitivity / tipping point analysis will also be performed to evaluate the MAR (missing at random) 
assumption for the missing primary efficacy outcome (caries arrest at approximately 6 months). A 
pattern-mixture approach to the missing data imputation (missing not at random, MNAR) will be applied 
to the logistic regression model used for imputing the missing caries arrest at approximately 6 months 
outcome from the variables described above. To represent MNAR, a range of shift parameters will be 
used to adjust the log odds ratios for the SDF-treated group. The tipping point will be identified as the 
amount of shift needed to change the statistical significance of the treatment comparison using the 
primary efficacy analysis. The size of the shift required to change the statistical significance will be used 
to gauge the plausibility of the MAR assumption.  
 


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13 SOURCE DOCUMENTS AND ACCESS TO SOURCE DATA/DOCUMENTS 
Data will be collected on a combination of paper source documents and on electronic Case Report Forms 
(eCRF).  When data is directly entered into the clinical database the eCRF will serve as the source 
document. Data will include ICDAS examination data, safety data, and parent/guardian survey responses 
to address tertiary objectives. A commercially-developed, FDA-compliant, web-based electronic data 
capture system will be utilized for this trial. 
 
Trial staff will maintain appropriate medical and research records for this trial, in compliance with ICH 
E6, Section 4.9 and regulatory and institutional requirements for the protection of confidentiality of 
participants. Trial staff will permit authorized representatives of NIDCR and regulatory agencies to 
examine (and when required by applicable law, to copy) research records for the purposes of quality 
assurance reviews, audits, and evaluation of the trial safety, progress and data validity. 


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14 QUALITY CONTROL AND QUALITY ASSURANCE 
Each clinical site is responsible for maintaining quality control at their site. This includes managing the 
security, integrity and completeness of items such as Case Report Forms, consents, and medical histories. 
Any data stored electronically must be handled in accordance with federal institutional policies. The 
Project Manager will provide oversight of Quality Management (QM). The Project Manager will work 
with the sites (recruitment centers) to develop plans for appropriate internal quality management that 
incorporate elements of quality control and quality assurance. These quality management plans will 
provide site staff with the means to identify and resolve problems with protocol implementation and 
regulatory compliance. 
 
To ensure consistency in ICDAS examinations across different examiners and trial sites, an examiner 
calibration session will occur prior to trial initiation. All dental examiners will be trained and calibrated in 
the use of the ICDAS II criteria for dental caries, including assessment of dentin hardness and color in 
cavitated lesions. Examiners will also be trained in the management and examination of young children.  
 
The recruitment centers should follow their institutional SOPs, where relevant, to conduct the trial per 
protocol for Quality Assurance. The SOPs should be available to the trial monitor during monitoring 
visits. 
 
14.1 
Participant Binder 
All essential trial documents must be retained by the investigator in a Participant Binder and generally 
include the following:  
 
o Source documents  
o Paper questionnaires completed by the participant  
o Paper CRFs  
o Data correction forms 
 
14.2 
Regulatory Binder 
All essential regulatory documents must be maintained by the investigator.  These generally include the 
following:  
 
o IRB documents, including approved consent(s) 
o Investigator and Sub-Investigator CVs or documentation of qualifications and training 
o Delegation of Responsibility Log, and 
o Monitoring Reports 


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15 ETHICS/PROTECTION OF HUMAN SUBJECTS 
15.1 
Ethical Standard 
The investigator will ensure that this trial is conducted in full conformity with the principles set forth in 
The Belmont Report: Ethical Principles and Guidelines for the Protection of Human Subjects of Research, 
as drafted by the US National Commission for the Protection of Human Subjects of Biomedical and 
Behavioral Research (April 18, 1979) and codified in 45 CFR Part 46 and/or the ICH E6. 
 
15.2 
Institutional Review Board 
The protocol, informed consent form(s), recruitment materials, and all participant facing materials will be 
submitted to the single IRB (sIRB) of record for review and approval. Additionally, all trial sites will 
submit institutional IRB submissions to cede to a single IRB. 
 
Approval of both the protocol and the consent form must be obtained before any participant is enrolled. 
Any amendment to the protocol will require review and approval by the IRB before the changes are 
implemented in the trial. 
 
15.3 
Informed Consent Process 
A waiver of informed consent and HIPAA will be requested to access potential child participant names, 
telephone numbers, addresses, and dental records to pre-screen for eligibility. This information will be 
used to introduce the trial to parents/legal guardians of children who may be eligible to participate. If the 
parent/guardian is interested, her/his consent will be obtained. See below for more detail on these 
processes. 
 
Parents/legal guardians of children with potentially eligible lesions will be informed about the trial, and if 
interested will undergo the consenting process. If pre-screening happens during the school day, when 
parents/guardians are not present, the pre-screening results and information about the trial, and invitation 
to schedule a baseline visit, will be sent home with the child. Interested families will call the trial team or 
will receive a call from the trial team and will undergo review of the inclusion/exclusion criteria over the 
phone, and receive a brief explanation of the trial. If they agree to participate, the consenting process will 
occur. 
 
Participant Consent: The consent forms will be reviewed and informed consent will be obtained prior to 
any trial activities. The parent/guardian must consent for the child and her/himself. Participants will be 
given a copy of the signed consent form. 
 
How it will be determined whether the participants understand the information that was provided in the 
consent document: We will determine whether the participants understand the information that is 
provided in the consent document by reviewing it in detail with the participant, answering any and all 
questions the participant may have, and asking the participant to explain the trial back to the person 
obtaining consent. Participants will be asked to reiterate in their own words what they will need to do as 
participants in the trial and what the potential risks and benefits are. If participants do not ask any 
questions about the document, but appear confused or unclear about what was explained to them, then the 
person obtaining consent will attempt to identify the area(s) of uncertainty and clarify the content for the 
research participant. 
 
For participants who may prefer the use of other languages, trial materials will be translated by a 
translator into selected languages, and available translated versions of the consent will be used. In 
addition, trial personnel fluent in selected languages will be available at sites if needed. 
 


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A record of consented participants will be kept in the regulatory binder. The Data and Clinical 
Coordinating Center (DCCC) will also keep a record of trial ID of those who provided consent.  
 
15.4 
Exclusion of Women, Minorities, and Children (Special Populations) 
 
Include 
Exclude 
Vulnerable Population Type 
 
X 
Adults unable to consent 
X 
 
Individuals who are not yet adults (e.g., 
infants, children,  emancipated minors) 
 
X 
Wards of the State (e.g., foster children) 
X 
 
Pregnant women 
 
X 
Prisoners 
 
Inclusion of Women  
No potential participants will be excluded from participation based on their gender. It is anticipated that a 
roughly equal number of boys and girls ages 12 to 71 months will be included in this trial. It is also 
anticipated, based on our other studies that the person identified and recruited as the parent/legal guardian 
in most cases will be the mother. 
 
Inclusion of Minorities 
The aim of this trial is to decrease disparities in young, diverse (ethnicity, race, location-urban, rural) U.S. 
children with high risk for dental caries, by conducting a multi-site longitudinal prospective trial. Thus, 
inclusion of minorities is crucial to this project’s aim. Ethnicity and race of the caregiver and child will be 
identified by the caregiver.  
 
15.5 
Participant Confidentiality 
Participant confidentiality is strictly held in trust by the investigators, trial staff, and the sponsor(s) and 
their agents. 
 
The trial protocol, documentation, data, and all other information generated will be held in strict 
confidence. No information concerning the trial or the data will be released to any unauthorized third 
party without prior written approval of the sponsor. 
 
The trial monitor or other authorized representatives of the sponsor may inspect all trial documents and 
records required to be maintained by the investigator. The clinical trial site will permit access to such 
records. 
 
Any data, forms, reports, and other records that leave the university that collected the data will be de-
identified of any protected health information (PHI) and replaced with trial identifier to maintain 
participant confidentiality. However, as many trial visits will occur off-site (e.g., head start centers, other 
dental clinics, etc.), trial teams will need to carry parent/legal guardian and child names with them at 
those times to identify the child’s PIN for data collection. Information will not be released without written 
permission of the participant, except as necessary for: monitoring by the IRB, OHRP, NIH or its designee 
and/or any other government officials; and safety monitors/committees that may need the information to 
make sure that the trial is done in a safe and proper manner, and/or analyze the results of the trial. 


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To further protect the privacy of trial participants, the Secretary, Health and Human Services (HHS), has 
issued a Certificate of Confidentiality (CoC) to all researchers engaged in biomedical, behavioral, clinical 
or other human subjects research funded wholly or in part by the federal government.  Recipients of NIH-
funded human subjects research are required to protect identifiable research information from forced 
disclosure per the terms of the NIH Policy (see https://humansubjects.nih.gov/coc/index). As set forth in 
45 CFR Part 75.303(a) and NIHGPS Chapter 8.3, recipients conducting NIH-supported research covered 
by this Policy are required to establish and maintain effective internal controls (e.g., policies and 
procedures) that provide reasonable assurance that the award is managed in compliance with Federal 
statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of award. It is the NIH policy that investigators and 
others who have access to research records will not disclose identifying information except when the 
participant consents or in certain instances when federal, state, or local law or regulation requires 
disclosure. NIH expects investigators to inform research participants of the protections and the limits to 
protections provided by a Certificate issued by this Policy. 
 
15.6 
Future Use of Stored Specimens and Other Identifiable Data 
The informed consent document will request permission from the parent/legal guardian to contact him/her 
for potential future studies. The parent/legal guardian will either consent to allow contact from the trial 
team to assess interest in potential future studies or will decline. 


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16 DATA HANDLING AND RECORD KEEPING 
The investigators are responsible for ensuring the accuracy, completeness, legibility, and timeliness of the 
data reported. All source documents should be completed in a neat, legible manner to ensure accurate 
interpretation of data. The investigators will maintain adequate case histories of trial participants, 
including accurate case report forms (CRFs), and source documentation. 
 
16.1 
Data Management Responsibilities 
The University of Michigan in collaboration with Rho, Inc. will serve as the Data and Clinical 
Coordinating Center (DCCC) for this trial. Data collection and accurate documentation are the 
responsibility of the trial staff under the supervision of the investigator, lead site coordinator, and project 
manager. All source documents must be reviewed by the trial team and data entry staff, which will ensure 
that they are accurate and complete. Unanticipated problems and adverse events must be reviewed by the 
investigator or designee in a timely manner (please see the MOP for more details). 
 
16.2 
Data Capture Methods 
Data will be captured via paper source documents or directly entered into the electronic database, with the 
eCRF serving as the source document for directly entered data.   
 
16.3 
Types of Data 
The material collected from participants will include data from clinical exams and trial questionnaires, 
specifically: 
 
● Data collected during the trial pre-screening visit (recruitment) will include eligibility criteria, 
demographics such as sex, race/ethnicity, age, etc. 
● At baseline/24-48 hour contacts/visits, and the 3-month, 6-month, and 8-month clinical trial 
visits, trial questionnaires including, for example dental discomfort (Appendix B), oral health-
related quality of life (Appendix C), and family survey (Appendix D) will be collected. An oral 
soft tissue exam will be completed. A medical history will be collected at baseline and re-
assessed at approximately 6 months or between 4.5 month and 6 month visits. The ICDAS 
examination of the oral cavity will include scoring of teeth present and absent, as well as presence 
of caries lesion severity and activity (Appendix A). Cavitated lesions’ data for ICDAS score of 5 
or 6 will further include hardness and color. For SDF/placebo application (during baseline and 6 
month visits), time of application will be recorded. 
● Data regarding Adverse and Serious Adverse Events as well as Unanticipated Problems will be 
collected and reported as needed throughout the trial. 
● During the 1.5-, 4.5-, and 7-month Intermediate Contacts, contact information will be updated. 
Additionally, brief questions inquiring about side effects of the SDF/placebo treatment will be 
asked, in addition to administration of the dental discomfort questionnaire (Appendix B) to 
determine if an unscheduled clinic visit is necessary to evaluate the child. Contact information 
will also be updated during the in person 3- and 6-month trial visits. 
 
16.4 
Schedule and Content of Reports 
Enrollment and retention data will be reviewed on a regular basis by the Executive Committee and 
NIDCR. The Executive Committee will be led by the trial PI, and will include the Project and Data 
Manager, the site PIs, the site lead coordinators, the trial biostatisticians, the NIDCR representatives, and 
Rho representatives. The Committee will review AEs/SAEs/UPs, reports to the Data and Safety 
Monitoring Board (DSMB), and interim analysis upon conclusion of the 6-month visits for approximately 
50% of the total sample. 
 


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16.5 
Trial Records Retention 
Trial records will be maintained for at least three years from the date that the grant federal financial report 
(FFR) is submitted to the NIH (or 2 years following the date that SDF is approved for the drug indication 
for which it is being investigated, whichever is longer). 
 
Trial documents should be retained for a minimum of 2 years after the last approval of a marketing 
application in an ICH region and until there are no pending or contemplated marketing applications in an 
ICH region or until at least 2 years have elapsed since the formal discontinuation of clinical development 
of the investigational product. These documents should be retained for a longer period, however, if 
required by local regulations. No records will be destroyed without the written consent of the sponsor, if 
applicable. It is the responsibility of the sponsor to inform the investigator when these documents no 
longer need to be retained. 
 
16.6 
Protocol Deviations 
A protocol deviation is any noncompliance with the clinical trial protocol or Good Clinical Practice 
requirements. The noncompliance may be on the part of the participant, the investigator, or trial staff. As 
a result of deviations, corrective action plans are to be developed by the trial staff and implemented 
promptly. 
 
Protocol deviations include, but are not limited to the following:  
 
 
Outcome measurement (e.g., caries exam) not performed, trial drug/placebo not applied 
 
Missed visit, or visit out of window 
 
In addition, non-compliance issues or violations that will be expected to be reported include, but may not 
be limited to: 
 
 
Failure to obtain participant Informed Consent  
 
Failure to obtain IRB approval and keep IRB approval up to date 
 
Failure to follow IRB recommendations 
 
These practices are consistent with investigator and sponsor obligations in ICH E6: 
 
Compliance with Protocol, Sections 4.5.1, 4.5.2, 4.5.3, and 4.5.4. 
 
Quality Assurance and Quality Control, Section 5.1.1 
 
Noncompliance, Sections 5.20.1 and 5.20.2. 
 
All deviations from the protocol must be addressed in trial participant source documents and will be 
periodically reported to NIDCR and the local IRB, according to their requirements. Protocol deviations 
and violations will be recorded in the eCRFs. Additionally, all protocol deviations and violations will be 
routinely reported to the DSMB. 
 


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17 PUBLICATION/DATA SHARING POLICY 
This trial will comply with the NIH Public Access Policy, which ensures that the public has access to the 
published results of NIH funded research. It requires scientists to submit final peer-reviewed journal 
manuscripts that arise from NIH funds to the digital archive PubMed Central upon acceptance for 
publication. 
 
The International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) member journals have adopted a 
clinical trials registration policy as a condition for publication.  The ICMJE defines a clinical trial as any 
research project that prospectively assigns human subjects to intervention or concurrent comparison or 
control groups to trial the cause-and-effect relationship between a medical intervention and a health 
outcome. Medical interventions include drugs, surgical procedures, devices, behavioral treatments, 
process-of-care changes, and the like. Health outcomes include any biomedical or health-related measures 
obtained in patients or participants, including pharmacokinetic measures and adverse events. The ICMJE 
policy requires that all clinical trials be registered in a public trials registry such as ClinicalTrials.gov, 
which is sponsored by the National Library of Medicine. Other biomedical journals are considering 
adopting similar policies. For interventional clinical trials performed under NIDCR grants and 
cooperative agreements, it is the grantee’s responsibility to register the trial in an acceptable registry, so 
the research results may be considered for publication in ICMJE member journals. The ICMJE does not 
review specific studies to determine whether registration is necessary; instead, the committee 
recommends that researchers who have questions about the need to register err on the side of registration 
or consult the editorial office of the journal in which they wish to publish. 
 
U.S. Public Law 110-85 (Food and Drug Administration Amendments Act of 2007 or FDAAA), Title 
VIII, Section 801 mandates that a "responsible party" (i.e., the sponsor or designated principal 
investigator) register and report results of certain "applicable clinical trials:"  
 
Trials of Drugs and Biologics: Controlled, clinical investigations, other than Phase I investigations, of a 
product subject to FDA regulation;  
 
Trials of Devices: Controlled trials with health outcomes of a product subject to FDA regulation (other 
than small feasibility studies) and pediatric post market surveillance studies. 
NIH grantees must take specific steps to ensure compliance with NIH implementation of FDAAA. 


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ionomer in arresting dentine caries in preschool children. Journal of Dentistry 2012;40(11):962–967. 
[PubMed] 
Zhi Q, Lo E, Kwok A. An in vitro study of silver and fluoride ions on remineralization of demineralized 
enamel and dentine. Aust Dent J, 2013;58(1):50-6 
 
 


Phase III RCT of the Effectiveness of Silver Diamine Fluoride in Arresting Cavitated Caries Lesions 
Version 3.1 
Protocol 17-094-E 
16 April 2019 
 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________  
 _____________________________________________________________________________________________  
Based on NIDCR Clinical Trial (Interventional) Protocol Template v4.0 - 20140103 
58 
 
SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIALS 
 
These documents are relevant to the protocol, but they are not considered part of the protocol. They are 
stored and modified separately. As such, modifications to these documents do not require protocol 
amendments. 
 
 
Site Roster 
 
Manual of Procedures 
 
Calibration protocol  
 
Case report forms 
 
Data Management Plan 
 
Clinical Monitoring Plan 
 
Statistical Analysis Plan 
 
DSMB Charter 


Phase III RCT of the Effectiveness of Silver Diamine Fluoride in Arresting Cavitated Caries Lesions 
Version 3.1 
Protocol 17-094-E 
16 April 2019 
 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________  
 _____________________________________________________________________________________________  
Based on NIDCR Clinical Trial (Interventional) Protocol Template v4.0 - 20140103 
59 
 
APPENDICES 
 
List of included Appendices: 
 
Appendix A: ICDAS II Criteria 
Appendix B: Dental Discomfort Questionnaire (DDQ) (Versloot et al., 2006) 
Appendix C: Oral Health-Related Quality of Life (OHRQoL) Questionnaires 
Appendix D: Family Survey 
Appendix E: Adverse Events 
 
 


 
 
APPENDIX A: ICDAS II Criteria: Caries Lesion Severity and Activity Assessment 
(www.icdas.org) and Example Images for each ICDAS score 
 
1. Activity Working Definitions and Criteria 
 
An Active Lesion is considered to have a great likelihood of transition or change (progress, arrest or regress). 
 
An Inactive (Arrested) Lesion is considered to have stopped, and thus not likely to transition overtime. 
 
Clinical observations to be taken into consideration for assessing lesion activity are based on a modification of the 
Nyvad et al. (1999) caries lesion activity assessment criteria and include visual appearance, tactile feeling and potential 
for plaque accumulation, depending on the severity (i.e., ICDAS score) of the lesion. When in doubt score the lesion as 
active. 
 
Note that for this trial lesions being targeted for inclusion and SDF/placebo application are ICDAS 5 and 6 
lesions (see next page); that are active (see table below), and do not cause pain due to caries at baseline, or have 
pulp exposure, mobility not associated with expected exfoliation patterns, or signs of pulpal infection (abscess, 
fistula, swelling). Change in lesion activity is the primary trial outcome. 
 
See table below for activity lesion criteria relevant to ICDAS 5 and 6 lesions * 
 
ICDAS Score 
Characteristics of the Lesion 
Active Lesion 
Inactive (Arrested) Lesion 
1, 2 and 3 
Surface of enamel is whitish/yellowish, opaque 
with loss of luster; feels rough when the tip of 
the probe is moved gently across the surface. 
Lesion is in a plaque stagnation area, i.e., pits 
and fissures, near the gingival margin, and 
proximal below the contact point 
Surface of enamel is whitish/brownish or black. 
Enamel may be shiny and feels hard and 
smooth when the tip of the probe is moved 
gently across the surface. For smooth surfaces, 
the caries lesion is typically located at some 
distance from the gingival margin 
4 
Probably active 
 
* 5 and 6 
Dentin in cavity feels soft/leathery on gently 
probing (probe penetrates dentin). 
Dentin in cavity may be shiny and feels hard on 
gentle probing. 
 
https://www.icdas.org/uploads/ICDAS%20Criteria%20Document%20corrected%202013.pdf 
 
2. Surface Code-Severity Scoring System 
The data collected will be twofold – Tooth and Surface Code.  
 
The Tooth Code is indicated by using one of the following codes: S = Sound; U = Unerupted; X = Extracted, 
presumed for the reason of caries; Y = Extracted for other reasons, not caries; N = Not gradable, e.g., for reasons 
of trauma; and C = Caries or caries related events such as fillings.  
 
The Surface Code is indicated when the tooth code of caries is present. Tooth codes include the ICDAS lesion 
severity and filling code scoring system: 
 
Filling and Sealant Codes 
 
1 = Sealant, partial 
 
2 = Sealant, full 
 
3 = Tooth colored restoration 
 
4 = Amalgam restoration 
 
5 = Stainless steel crown 
 
6 = Crown, gold, porcelain or MCC 
 
7 = Lost restoration 
 
8 = Temporary restoration 
 
9 = Other 
 


 
 
ICDAS Caries Severity Codes (Example images in primary teeth are provided in the next page) 
 
Code  Narrative 
Description 
0 
Sound tooth surface 
No or questionable change in enamel translucency after prolonged air drying (>5s). 
Artifacts such as hypoplasias, fluorosis, wear and stains must be avoided 
1 
First visual change in 
enamel 
Opacity or discoloration not visible on the wet surface, but distinctly visible after air 
drying, or changes seen on a wet surface, but limited to the confines of the pit and 
fissure area 
2 
Distinct visual change 
in enamel 
Opacity or discoloration distinctly visible on a wet surface and/or wider than the 
fissure/fossa area 
3 
Localized enamel 
breakdown due to 
caries with no visible 
dentin 
Initial, localized enamel breakdown in opaque or discolored enamel at the entrance to 
or within the pit and fissure, appearing substantially and unnaturally wider than normal, 
but dentin not visible clinically in the walls or the base of the cavity/discontinuity. If in 
doubt, or to confirm the visual assessment the probe can be used gently across the 
surface to confirm the presence of a cavity, by gently sliding the tip along the suspect 
pit and fissure 
4 
Cavitated or Non-
cavitated surface with 
underlying dark shadow 
from dentin 
Shadow of discolored dentin (gray, blue or brown) visible through an apparently intact 
enamel (most easily seen when wet) 
*5 
Distinct cavity with 
visible dentin 
Cavitation in opaque or discolored enamel clearly exposing clinically the dentin 
beneath. The cavity involves less than half of the surface of the tooth 
*6 
Extensive distinct 
cavity with visible 
dentin 
Obvious loss of tooth structure, the cavity is both deep and wide, and dentin is clearly 
exposed clinically and visible on the walls and at the base of the cavity, revealing an 
extensive cavitation. The cavity involves half or more of the surface of the tooth 
 
When in doubt between 2 scores, choose the lower score. 
 
 
*Note that for this trial lesions being targeted for SDF/placebo application are ICDAS 5 and 6 lesions (with cavitations 
exposing dentin clinically; see table above for criteria relevant to ICDAS 5 and 6 lesions).  
 
As air drying will not be used in this trial, only drying with cotton or gauze, ICDAS 1 lesions that are white may not be 
able to be distinguished. 
 
 
 


 
 
 
*Note that for this trial lesions being targeted for SDF application are ICDAS 5 and 6 lesions (see table above for 
examples of ICDAS 5 and 6 lesions in primary teeth. These can be in anterior or posterior teeth.) 
 
 
Example Images in Primary teeth 
ICDAS Severity Score 
0- Sound tooth surface 
 
1- First visual change in enamel 
2- Distinct visual change in enamel 
3- Localized enamel breakdown due to caries with 
no visible dentin 
 
4- Underlying dark shadow from dentin +/- 
localized enamel breakdown (no dentin exposed 
clinically) 
 
 
* 5- Distinct cavity with visible dentin clinically 
* 6- Extensive distinct cavity with visible dentin 
clinically 


 
 
Appendix B: Dental Discomfort Questionnaire (DDQ)  
(Versloot et al., 2006) 
 
This validated questionnaire consists of two parts.  
 
A. The first part includes a question concerning the occurrence of toothache.  
 
1. The parent/guardian is asked if he/she ever noticed that the child had toothache: Have you noticed if your child 
currently has a toothache? 
 
This question can be answered with: ‘never’, ‘sometimes’, ‘often’, or ‘I do not know’.  
 
2.  If the parent/guardian answers ‘sometimes’ or ‘often’, they are asked when. 
 
Choices include: either during meals, during daytime or nighttime (several alternatives possible).  
 
B. The second part of the DDQ consists of 8 validated questions about different behaviors associated with toothache or 
discomfort due to caries (e.g., crying during meals or chewing problems) and two additional standard of care 
questions for the study’s pediatric clinics: 
 
1. Problems with brushing upper teeth  
2. Puts away/avoids something nice to eat  
3. Problems with brushing lower teeth  
4. Bites with molar instead of front teeth  
5. Chewing at one side 
6. Problems chewing  
7. Reaching for the cheek while eating  
8. Crying during meals  
 
In addition, we will ask the following questions about behaviors associated with toothache that are used as standard of 
care in the pediatric clinics at the three clinical sites: 
 
 
9. Wakes up in the middle of the night with a toothache 
10. Has a toothache that lasts for more than 1 hour 
 
For each item the parent/guardian is asked to rate how often their child shows a given specific behavior. The questions can 
be answered on a three-point scale: 0 ‘never’, 1 ‘sometimes’, and 2 ‘often’.  
 
Note: A DDQ score of 1 or higher (i.e., any level of toothache complaint) at baseline will result in exclusion of participant 
from the trial.  
 
Once a tooth is included in the trial and treated, a DDQ score of 1* or higher, which the examiner can associate during a 
clinical visit with a trial tooth, will result in exiting of tooth from the trial, and arranging follow-up care for the tooth (note 
there might be other reasons for exiting a tooth from the trial, such as abscess, mobility, etc. Refer to Exiting Rules). 
 
During intermediate phone calls, a toothache DDQ score of 1 or higher will trigger the trial team to attempt an 
unscheduled/emergency clinical visit (Note: we expect these numbers to be low, because during a 6-9 month hospital 
operating room waiting period in teams’ clinics to treat children with S-ECC, only 8-12% of patients required emergency 
visits due to complaints of toothache pain). 
 
*According to Versloot et al. (2006), 70% of children with cavities and toothache had a DDQ score of 4 or higher, and the 
average score for these children was 5.73. However, for ethical reasons in this trial, any complaint of toothache pain 
(DDQ score of 1 or higher) will require an action from the trial team as described above. 
 
 


 
 
Appendix C: Oral Health-Related Quality of Life (OHRQoL) Questionnaires 
Short-form Parental-Caregiver Perception Questionnaire (P-CPQ) and Family Impact Scale (FIS) Questionnaires 
(Thomson et al., 2013) 
 
This document contains the 16-item short-form version of the P-CPQ, together with the 8-item short-form version of the 
FIS. All have been validated. 
 
Please note: these two short-form questionnaires should be used with the following “Global Measures” questions (which 
serve as an important validity check; Thomson et al., 2013) 
 
1. Parent/Family Global Measures Questions 
 
These questions are about your child’s oral health: 
1-How would you describe the health of your child’s teeth and mouth? 
Excellent 
Very Good 
Good 
Fair 
Poor 
2-How much is your child’s overall well-being affected by the condition of his/her teeth, lips, jaw or mouth? 
Not at all 
Very Little 
Some 
A lot 
Very much 
3-How much is your family’s daily life affected by your child’s teeth lips, jaws or mouth?  
Not at all 
Very Little 
Some 
A lot 
Very much 
 
Note: A global item is always used alongside any multi-item scales, such as the P-CPQ and the FIS, because it 
acts as a concurrent validity check. For the P-CPQ, the accepted single-item global question is number 2 above. 
For the FIS, the accepted single-item global question is number 3 above. For the P-CPQ, for example, we need to 
check that, at baseline, the mean P-CPQ scale scores show an ascending gradient across the 5 response categories 
of the global question. This is an essential step, because to investigate how the OHRQoL of the child participants 
has changed, we need to first reassure ourselves that the P-CPQ is performing adequately in a cross-sectional 
sense in this population (and the same applies to the FIS and the other global question). 
 
Global transition judgment question (to be provided only at 3-, 6- and 8-month follow-up visits) 
Since your child’s teeth had the SDF/placebo treatment is your child’s overall well-being  
Much improved 
A little improved 
The same 
A little worse 
Much worse 
 
Note: This global transition judgment question will be included at follow-up visits for assessing the 
responsiveness of the OHRQoL measures in children with ECC (Locker et al., 2004). If the use of SDF had 
improved the participants’ lives, we would expect to see a substantial fall in P-CPQ scores between baseline and 
follow-up in the children who had received the SDF. This will be determined using the effect size, a unitless 
measure of change in mean score which is calculated by subtracting the follow-up score from the baseline score 
and dividing the result by the standard deviation of the mean baseline score for that group. This global transition 
judgment (which is a single question which basically asks them to judge whether they got better, got worse or 
stayed the same) serves both as a concurrent validity check for the change in P-CPQ score (in the same way that 
the global item earlier serves as a concurrent validity check at baseline, as described above) and also as an 
outcome measure in its own right. 
 
2. P-CPQ 16-item version 
The following questions ask about symptoms and discomfort that children may experience due to the condition of their 
teeth, lips, mouth and jaws.  


 
 
 
During the last 3 months, how often has YOUR CHILD: 
Had pain in the teeth, lips, jaw or mouth? 
Never 
Once or twice 
Sometimes 
Often 
Every day or 
almost every day 
Don’t know 
Had food stuck in the roof of the mouth? 
Never 
Once or twice 
Sometimes 
Often 
Every day or 
almost every day 
Don’t know 
Had bad breath? 
Never 
Once or twice 
Sometimes 
Often 
Every day or 
almost every day 
Don’t know 
Had food caught in or between the teeth? 
Never 
Once or twice 
Sometimes 
Often 
Every day or 
almost every day 
Don’t know 
Had difficulty biting or chewing firm foods such as fresh apple, corn on the cob or firm meat? 
Never 
Once or twice 
Sometimes 
Often 
Every day or 
almost every day 
Don’t know 
Had trouble sleeping? 
Never 
Once or twice 
Sometimes 
Often 
Every day or 
almost every day 
Don’t know 
Has taken longer than others to eat a meal? 
Never 
Once or twice 
Sometimes 
Often 
Every day or 
almost every day 
Don’t know 
Had difficulty drinking or eating hot or cold foods? 
Never 
Once or twice 
Sometimes 
Often 
Every day or 
almost every day 
Don’t know 
Has been irritable or frustrated? 
Never 
Once or twice 
Sometimes 
Often 
Every day or 
almost every day 
Don’t know 
Has been upset? 
Never 
Once or twice 
Sometimes 
Often 
Every day or 
almost every day 
Don’t know 
Has missed school or preschool or daycare? 
Never 
Once or twice 
Sometimes 
Often 
Every day or 
almost every day 
Don’t know 
Has acted shy or embarrassed? 
Never 
Once or twice 
Sometimes 
Often 
Every day or 
almost every day 
Don’t know 
Has avoided smiling or laughing when around other children? 


 
 
Never 
Once or twice 
Sometimes 
Often 
Every day or 
almost every day 
Don’t know 
Had a hard time paying attention in school or preschool or daycare? 
Never 
Once or twice 
Sometimes 
Often 
Every day or 
almost every day 
Don’t know 
Has not wanted to talk/interact to other children? 
Never 
Once or twice 
Sometimes 
Often 
Every day or 
almost every day 
Don’t know 
Has been anxious or fearful? 
Never 
Once or twice 
Sometimes 
Often 
Every day or 
almost every day 
Don’t know 
 
3. FIS 8-item version 
The following questions ask about effects that your child’s oral condition may have on PARENTS AND OTHER 
FAMILY MEMBERS. 
 
During the last 3 months, because of your child’s teeth, lips, mouth or jaws, how often have you or another family 
member: 
Been upset? 
Never 
Once or twice 
Sometimes 
Often 
Every day or 
almost every day 
Don’t know 
Felt guilty? 
Never 
Once or twice 
Sometimes 
Often 
Every day or 
almost every day 
Don’t know 
Had sleep disrupted? 
Never 
Once or twice 
Sometimes 
Often 
Every day or 
almost every day 
Don’t know 
Taken time off work (e.g. due to pain, appointments, surgery)? 
Never 
Once or twice 
Sometimes 
Often 
Every day or 
almost every day 
Don’t know 
Had less time for yourself or the family? 
Never 
Once or twice 
Sometimes 
Often 
Every day or 
almost every day 
Don’t know 
Blamed you or another person in the family? 
Never 
Once or twice 
Sometimes 
Often 
Every day or 
almost every day 
Don’t know 
Argued with you or others in the family? 
Never 
Once or twice 
Sometimes 
Often 
Every day or 
almost every day 
Don’t know 
Required more attention from you or others in the family? 
Never 
Once or twice 
Sometimes 
Often 
Every day or 
almost every day 
Don’t know 


 
 
 
Items are scored using a 5-point Likert scale (response options: ‘Never’=0; ‘Once or twice’=1; ‘Sometimes’=2; 
‘Often’=3; ‘Every day or almost every day’=4). A “Don’t know” response option is provided, and this is scored as 0 in 
order to prevent the loss of valuable information which would occur if complete data from participants with non-response 
to some items was deleted.  
 
The Global rating questions (asked before the other scales) are scored on a 5-point scale (from 1 to 5), ranging from 
‘Excellent’ to ‘Poor’ and ‘Not at all’ to ‘Very much’. The global transition rating pertaining to perceptions in change in 
the child’s quality of life since having the SDF/placebo treatment is scored on a 5-point Likert scale scored from ‘Much 
improved’ to ‘Much worse’ (scored 1 to 5). 
 
P-CPQ and FIS total and subscale scores are computed by summing the scores.  
 
 


 
 
Appendix D: Family Survey 
(Satisfaction and Acceptability, Oral Health Habits, Experience with Caries and OR, Socio-demographics) 
 
 
Please mark (X) the best answer to the following questions.  
These questions ask about your child’s tooth-care 
(Select One) 
1. How often are your child’s teeth brushed? 
 2x/day 
 1x/day 
 Every other day 
 Seldom 
 Never 
2. Who brushes your child’s teeth? (select all that apply) 
 Child Alone 
 Child with Adult Supervision 
 Parent/Adult 
3. Does your child use toothpaste with fluoride? 
 Yes  
 No  
 Unsure 
4. Does your child use a special high fluoride toothpaste that you 
can only get by prescription or from your dentist or physician? 
 Yes  
 No  
 Unsure 
5. Other than by our study team, has your child received this 
school year (or since the last time you filled out this questionnaire 
3 months ago) any fluoride painted/put on their teeth by a health 
care professional (e.g., dentist, hygienist, doctor, nurse, etc.)? 
 Yes (Approximately how many times? _____) 
 No  
 Unsure 
These questions ask about your child’s eating habits 
(Select One) 
6. How often does your child get sugary drinks such as regular 
soda, sweet tea, chocolate milk, strawberry milk or fruit juice 
between meals? 
 Three or more times a day      
 One or two times a day     
 Weekly     
 Monthly     
 Never  
7. How often does your child get sugary snacks such as raisins, 
candy, cookies, cakes, or cereal between meals? 
 Three or more times a day      
 One or two times a day     
 Weekly 
 Monthly 
 Never 
8. How often does your child typically drink tap water - including 
filtered water from the refrigerator? 
 Daily 
 Weekly 
 Monthly 
 Never 
These questions ask about satisfaction with the appearance of 
your child’s teeth  
(Select One) 
9. How satisfied are you with the appearance of your child’s teeth?  Very satisfied 
 Mostly satisfied 


 
 
 Indifferent or mildly dissatisfied 
 Quite dissatisfied  
10. Does your child find the appearance of their teeth satisfactory? 
 Very satisfied 
 Mostly satisfied 
 Indifferent or mildly dissatisfied 
 Quite dissatisfied  
These questions ask about satisfaction with the treatment received in this study to treat your child’s cavities 
(select one) 
 
Questions 11-14 should only be completed after the participant has received SDF/Placebo treatment 
11. Did you find the treatment your child received acceptable (i.e., 
your child found it OK) 
 Yes, definitely 
 Yes, I think so 
 No, I do not think so 
 No, definitely not 
12. If a friend had a child with cavities, would you recommend to 
them the treatment for cavities that your child received as part of 
this study? 
 Yes, definitely 
 Yes, I think so 
 No, I do not think so 
 No, definitely not 
13. If one of your children had cavities in the future, would you 
want him or her to receive the treatment for cavities that your child 
received as part of this study? 
 Yes, definitely 
 Yes, I think so 
 No, I do not think so 
 No, definitely not 
14. Considering everything, how satisfied are you with the results 
of the treatment for your child’s cavities received in this study? 
 Very satisfied 
 Mostly satisfied 
 Indifferent or mildly dissatisfied 
 Quite dissatisfied 
These questions ask about your and your children’s teeth 
(Select One) 
15. Have any of your children had their cavities fixed in the 
hospital operating room or under general anesthesia? 
 Yes 
 No 
 N/A 
16. Do you have family or friends who have had their children’s 
cavities fixed in the hospital operating room or under general 
anesthesia? 
 Yes 
 No 
 Do not know 
17. Do you have any of your own teeth? (If Yes, answer Q18. If 
No, skip to Q19) 
 Yes  
 No 
18. Have you had cavities, fillings and/or teeth pulled in the last 
two years? 
 Yes  
 No 
Now tell us a little about you and your child 
(Select One; Except #20 and  23) 
19. Do you consider your child to be Spanish, Hispanic or Latino? 
 Yes  
 No  
20. What is your child’s racial background?                               
 White/Caucasian 


 
 
(check all that apply) 
 African American or Black 
 Asian 
 Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 
 American Indian or Alaskan Native 
 Other (specify)_________________ 
21. Do you primarily speak a language other than English at 
home? 
 Yes  
 No 
22. Do you consider yourself to be Spanish, Hispanic or Latino? 
 Yes  
 No 
23. What is your racial background?                                
(check all that apply) 
 White/Caucasian 
 African American or Black 
 Asian 
 Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 
 American Indian or Alaskan Native 
 Other (specify)_________________ 
24. Is an adult in the child's household employed? 
 Yes  
 No 
25. Counting you and your child, how many people live with you?  
(specify a number of children and number of adults counting 
yourself) 
#Children:_____    #Adults: _____ 
26. Which of the following categories best represents the 
combined income of all family members in your household for the 
past 12 months?  
 Less than $5,000 
 $5,000 - $9,999 
 $10,000 - $19,999 
 $20,000 - $29,999 
 $30,000 - $39,999 
 $40,000 - $49,999 
 $50,000 - $79,999 
 $80,000 - $99,999 
 $100,000 or more 
 Don’t know 
 
Thank you so much for answering these questions. 
 
 


 
 
Appendix E: Adverse Events 
Adverse Event 
Mild 
Moderate 
Severe 
Tooth infection (e.g., 
abscess, fistula, 
swelling, tooth 
mobility) 
- 
Localized; local intervention 
indicated (e.g., topical 
antibiotic), or 
operative/endodontic 
intervention indicated 
IV antibiotic indicated 
Life-threatening consequences; 
urgent intervention indicated 
or Death 
Toothache 
Mild pain: Over the counter 
analgesics (e.g., 
acetaminophen, ibuprofen) 
indicated 
Moderate pain; limiting 
instrumental ADL; 
Prescription oral analgesics 
(e.g., higher potency 
NSAIDs or low-potency 
opioids) indicated 
Severe pain; limiting self-care 
ADL; Prescription intravenous 
analgesics (e.g., mid to high-
potency opioids) indicated 
Oral mucositis 
(e.g., erythema, 
ulceration) 
Asymptomatic or mild 
symptoms; intervention not 
indicated 
Moderate pain; not 
interfering with oral intake; 
modified diet indicated 
Severe pain; interfering with oral 
intake 
Allergic reaction (e.g., 
difficulty swallowing 
or breathing, swelling 
around the lips or skin 
of the face, itchiness 
around the lips or skin 
of the face, hives or 
rash) 
Transient flushing or rash, 
drug fever <38 degrees C 
(<100.4 degrees F); 
intervention not indicated 
Intervention or infusion 
interruption indicated; 
responds promptly to 
symptomatic treatment (e.g., 
antihistamines, NSAIDS, 
narcotics); prophylactic 
medications indicated for 
<=24 hrs 
Prolonged (e.g., not rapidly 
responsive to symptomatic 
medication and/or brief 
interruption of infusion); 
recurrence of symptoms 
following initial improvement; 
hospitalization indicated for 
clinical sequelae (e.g., renal 
impairment, pulmonary 
infiltrates) 
Life-threatening consequences; 
urgent intervention indicated 
or Death  
Anaphylaxis 
- 
- 
Symptomatic bronchospasm, with 
or without urticarial; parenteral 
intervention indicated; allergy-
related edema/angioedema; 
hypotension 
Life-threatening consequences; 
urgent intervention indicated or 
Death  
Vomiting 
1 - 2 episodes (separated by 
5 minutes) in 24 hrs 
3 - 5 episodes (separated by 
5 minutes) in 24 hrs 
>=6 episodes (separated by 5 
minutes) in 24 hrs; tube 
feeding, TPN or 
hospitalization indicated 
Gastrointestinal pain 
(e.g., stomachache) 
Mild pain 
Moderate pain; limiting 
instrumental ADL 
Severe pain with inadequate oral 
caloric or fluid intake; limiting 
self-care ADL; tube feeding, 
TPN, or hospitalization indicated 


 
 
Diarrhea 
Increase of <4 stools per 
day over baseline; mild 
increase in ostomy output 
compared to 
baseline 
Increase of 4 - 6 stools per 
day over baseline; moderate 
increase in ostomy output 
compared to baseline 
Increase of >=7 stools per day 
over baseline; incontinence; 
hospitalization indicated; 
severe increase in ostomy 
output compared to baseline; 
limiting self-care ADL 
Nausea 
Loss of appetite without 
alteration in eating habits 
Oral intake decreased 
without 
significant weight loss, 
dehydration or malnutrition 
Inadequate oral caloric or fluid 
intake; tube feeding, TPN, or 
hospitalization indicated 
Extraoral (mucosal) 
Staining 
Staining on skin 
- 
- 
Intraoral (mucosal) 
Staining 
Staining on mucosa 
- 
- 
 
Based on AE reports for SDF from the literature.  Developed from Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events, 
version 4.03, US Department of Health and Human Services, 2010. 
 
Any related AE graded severe will be immediately reported to the Medical Monitor and investigated.