Table 2.
Participating Saudi Dentists’ Responses Regarding Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF) Considerations/Attitudes, by Percentage of Respondents to Each Item
| Item | Strongly Agree | Agree | Neutral | Disagree | Strongly Disagree | Mean, SD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SDF is a good treatment to be used to treat lesions which: | ||||||
| Are not in the esthetic zone on primary teeth. | 15.83% 44 |
38.49% 107 |
26.98% 75 |
14.75% 41 |
3.96% 11 |
3.47, 1.05 |
| Are in the esthetic zone on primary teeth. | 7.55% 21 |
23.74% 66 |
31.29% 87 |
26.62% 74 |
10.79% 30 |
3.09, 1.11 |
| Are not in the esthetic zone on permanent teeth. | 16.55% 46 |
40.65% 113 |
26.62% 74 |
11.51% 32 |
4.68% 13 |
3.53, 1.05 |
| Are in the esthetic zone on permanent teeth. | 3.60% 10 |
15.11% 42 |
28.06% 78 |
34.17% 95 |
19.06% 53 |
3.50, 1.07 |
| SDF treatment is a good treatment alternative: | ||||||
| For restorations in children with behavioral issues. | 23.74% 66 |
38.13% 106 |
22.30% 62 |
10.79% 30 |
5.04% 14 |
3.65, 1.11 |
| When a patient wants a composite restoration at a later time but cannot currently afford it. | 10.43% 29 |
33.81% 94 |
28.42% 79 |
22.66% 63 |
4.68% 13 |
3.23, 1.06 |
| When a patient wants an amalgam restoration at a later time but cannot currently afford it. | 9.35% 26 |
30.94% 86 |
31.65% 88 |
20.85% 58 |
7.19% 20 |
3.14, 1.08 |
| When patients are medically fragile. | 16.19% 45 |
36.33% 101 |
30.94% 86 |
11.15% 31 |
5.40% 15 |
3.47, 1.06 |
| When patients cannot pay for restorations. | 11.87% 33 |
41.01% 114 |
24.82% 69 |
17.27% 48 |
5.04% 14 |
3.37, 1.06 |
| When patients have severe dental anxiety. | 18.35% 51 |
36.69% 102 |
26.98% 75 |
14.39% 40 |
3.60% 10 |
3.52, 1.06 |
| When patients are undergoing or have recently undergone radiation therapy or chemotherapy. | 17.27% 48 |
38.85% 108 |
28.06% 78 |
11.87% 33 |
3.96% 11 |
3.54, 1.04 |
| When patients take bisphosphonate medications. | 11.51% 32 |
29.86% 83 |
41.01% 114 |
12.95% 36 |
4.68% 13 |
3.31, 0.99 |
| If patients would have to be put under general anesthesia for their dental treatment otherwise. | 6.83% 19 |
29.86% 83 |
29.50% 82 |
24.46% 68 |
9.35% 26 |
3.00, 1.09 |
| If patients would be unable to receive normal dental treatment and could also not be put under general anesthesia for treatment. | 17.27% 48 |
40.29% 112 |
28.42% 79 |
8.99% 25 |
5.04% 14 |
3.56, 1.04 |
| If patients with microstomia have difficult to access lesions that require treatment. | 12.23% 34 |
43.17% 120 |
32.37% 90 |
9.35% 26 |
2.88% 8 |
3.53, 0.93 |
| Total | 278 | |||||
| Attitude level average (out of 5) | 3.39 | |||||