Table 3.

Summary of publications studying the effects of silver diamine fluoride (SDF) on the mineral content of dentine

Authors, Year (Language)	Methods	Main findings
Li et al., 1997 (Chinese)38	Human dentine powder was immersed in 38% SDF solution. The product after reaction was analysed by XRD	CaF2 and Ag3PO4 were formed
Yang et al., 2004 (Chinese)30	Demineralised human root surfaces treated with 38% SDF were subjected to challenge with cariogenic biofilm for 2 days before MCR	SDF-treated root surfaces had less lesion depth (P < 0.05) and mineral loss than control
Yao et al., 2006 (Chinese)31	Demineralised human root surfaces treated with 38% SDF were immersed in remineralising solution for 7 days before SEM and MCR	Precipitates were formed on SDF-treated surfaces but not on water-treated surfaces.SDF-treated surfaces had less lesion depth (P < 0.05) and mineral loss (P < 0.05) than the control
Chu et al., 2008 (English)33	Primary teeth with arrested dentine caries treated with 38% SDF were extracted and underwent KHN measurements	Within the outer 25–200 μm, the median KHN of arrested carious lesions were greater (no statistics presented) than those of soft carious lesions
Knight et al., 2009 (English)12	Demineralised human dentine disks treated with 29% (1.8 mol/l) SDF were subjected to cariogenic biofilm challenge for 2 weeks before SEM and EPMA	SDF-treated dentine had less calcium (P < 0.05) and phosphorus (P < 0.05) loss and more fluoride uptake than the control
Guo et al., 2011 (Chinese)41	Demineralised human root surfaces treated with 38% SDF were subjected to cariogenic biofilm challenge for 6 days before SEM. The calcium concentration was evaluated at day 2, 4 and 6 by AAS	SDF-treated root surfaces had less calcium release than control (P < 0.05) and precipitates were formed
Chu et al., 2012 (English)7	Demineralised human dentine blocks treated with 38% SDF were subjected to cariogenic biofilm challenge for 7 days before MHT, EDX and FTIR	SDF-treated dentine blocks had increased microhardness and calcium/phosphate weight-percentage than the control (P < 0.05); the ratio of amide I to hydrogen phosphate was reduced (P < 0.05)
Mei et al., 2013 (English)6	Demineralised human dentine blocks treated with 38% SDF were subjected to challenge with cariogenic biofilm for 7 days before XRD and FTIR	SDF-treated dentine blocks had reduced mineral loss and reduced ratio of amide I to hydrogen phosphate (P < 0.05)
Mei et al., 2013 (English)5	Demineralised human dentine blocks treated with 38% SDF were incubated in artificial mouth for 21 days before MHT, EDX and FTIR	SDF-treated dentine blocks had increased microhardness and calcium/phosphate weight percentage (P < 0.05); the ratio of amide I to hydrogen phosphate was reduced (P < 0.01)
Mei et al., 2013 (English)3	Demineralised human dentine blocks treated with 38% SDF were subjected to pH cycling for 8 days before SEM, micro-CT and XRD	SDF-treated dentine blocks had reduced lesion depth (P < 0.01). Silver chloride and metallic silver were formed
Mei et al., 2014 (English)39	Primary teeth with arrested dentine caries, treated with 38% SDF, were extracted and underwent assessments of micro-CT, EDX, SEM and TEM	A highly remineralised surface zone (about 150 μm), rich in calcium and phosphate, was found on the arrested dentinal lesion. Collagens were protected and not exposed as a result of SDF treatment

AAS, atomic absorption spectrometry; Ag₃PO₄, silver phosphate; CaF₂, calcium fluoride; EDX, energy-dispersive X-ray analysis; EPMA, electron probe microanalysis; FTIR, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy; KHN, Knoop hardness number; MCR, micro-contact radiography; micro-CT, micro-computed tomography; MHT, micro-hardness testing; SEM, scanning electron microsopy; TEM, transmission electron microscopy; XRD, X-ray diffraction.