Perspectives of Dental Stakeholders on the Clinical Use of Silver Diamine Fluoride in Australia for Caries

Introduction: Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) is an effective cariostatic agent that has reemerged globally in recent years. Its resurgence is timely as dental caries remains prevalent, necessitating an affordable and simple treatment option. Its implementation in Australia has been slow, with inconsistent views on its use among practitioners, but is likely imminent given the recent global uptake. There is currently no literature examining Australian dental stakeholder views on SDF’s implementation. Objectives: This study aims to investigate Australian dental stakeholder views on the use of SDF and to identify the challenges and facilitators to its implementation for managing dental caries. Methods: Qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted with Australian dental stakeholders. The analysis was carried out using Braun and Clarke’s reflexive thematic analysis framework and NVivo14 software. Results: Ten participants were interviewed (7 dentists, 2 hygiene therapists, and 1 hygienist) from 4 Australian states. The barriers and facilitators to Australia’s use of SDF were found within the themes of policy, research, manufacturer, teaching and exposure, and clinical setting. Major barriers to SDF adoption include insufficient training in the undergraduate setting, lack of a standardized Australian guideline detailing use, no Therapeutic Goods Administration approval for caries, and the manufacturer’s product design. Facilitators included continual professional development on SDF, manufacturer marketing of the product, and ample research supporting SDF’s effectiveness for dental caries. Conclusions: This study highlights both barriers and facilitators to SDF use in Australia, providing insight into factors that may influence its future integration into dental practice. Knowledge Transfer Statement: The results of this study show that successful implementation into Australia will require effort and changes by policymakers, universities, and manufacturers to support clinician use.