School-based dental care proves vital in fighting kids’ tooth decay, NYU study reveals
NEW YORK: A landmark study by the NYU College of Dentistry has found that minimally invasive dental care provided in schools can prevent the progression of tooth decay in children for years—a breakthrough that could reshape how oral health is delivered to underserved populations. The findings, published in JAMA Network Open, show that school-based programs using Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF) and Atraumatic Restorative Treatment (ART) can effectively manage more than 10,000 existing cavities in elementary school students across New York City.
“This study is our most robust analysis of these different cavity prevention techniques, as we focused on decay on each tooth surface and measured it up to four years,” said Dr. Ryan Richard Ruff, associate professor at NYU Dentistry and lead investigator of the CariedAway program.
Childhood cavities: a hidden crisis
Tooth decay remains the most common chronic disease among children in the United States. Left untreated, it causes pain, infections, and impacts nutrition and academic performance. According to estimates, children miss nearly 34 million school hours each year due to urgent dental care.
The NYU-led study demonstrates that proactive, school-based dental care can fill a critical gap, especially in communities with limited access to dentists.
Two powerful tools: SDF and ART
Most school dental programs focus on prevention with sealants. However, few address active cavities already present in children’s teeth. The CariedAway study focused on treating decay using two FDA-recognized methods:
- Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF): A colorless liquid applied directly to cavities, SDF kills bacteria, remineralizes enamel, and stops decay in its tracks. Originally approved for treating tooth sensitivity, it has become a widely used tool in pediatric dentistry.
- Atraumatic Restorative Treatment (ART): ART involves gently removing decayed material using hand tools (no drilling), then sealing the cavity with a tooth-colored filling. It is especially useful in low-resource or non-clinical environments like schools.
During twice-yearly school visits, children received either SDF or ART—depending on their school’s assigned treatment protocol—followed by a fluoride varnish.
Results that speak for themselves
Over a four-year period, NYU researchers monitored more than 1,600 children aged 5 to 13, treating over 10,000 individual cavities. The results were highly encouraging:
- 62% of decayed tooth surfaces treated with SDF did not worsen
- 55% of decayed surfaces treated with ART remained stable
“Offering ART or SDF in schools can help avoid the need for more invasive dental treatment and improve access to preventive care,” said Dr. Tamarinda J. Barry Godín, CariedAway project director.
Why school-based dental care matters
This study underscores the importance of delivering dental care where children already are—inside schools. School-based oral health programs eliminate barriers such as transportation, cost, and parental work schedules, offering timely treatment before decay becomes a crisis.
It also reinforces the potential of public health models that prioritize early, evidence-based intervention—especially in vulnerable communities.
CLICK HERE TO FOLLOW the official Dental News Pakistan WhatsApp Channel for real-time updates, expert insights, and exclusive stories that matter to the dental community and beyond.