***TASK*** the task is to summarize an input biomedical literature in six sentences 
    ***INPUT*** the input is a biomedical literature 
    ***OUTPUT*** the output is the summary of an input biomedical literature in six sentences 
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    Input: OBJECTIVE To compare the effectiveness of annual topical application of silver diamine fluoride ( SDF ) solution , semi-annual topical application of SDF solution , and annual application of a flowable high fluoride-releasing glass ionomer in arresting active dentine caries in primary teeth . METHODS A total of 212 children , aged 3 - 4 years , were r and omly allocated to one of three groups for treatment of carious dentine cavities in their primary teeth :  Gp1-annual application of SDF , Gp2-semi-annual application of SDF , and Gp3-annual application of glass ionomer . Follow-up examinations were carried out every six months to assess whether the treated caries lesions had become arrested . RESULTS After 24 months , 181 ( 85 % ) children remained in the study . The caries arrest rates were 79 % , 91 % and 82 % for Gp1 , Gp2 and Gp3 , respectively ( p=0.007 ) . In the logistic regression model using GEE to adjust for clustering effect , higher caries arrest rates were found in lesions treated in Gp2 ( OR=2.98 , p=0.007 ) , those in anterior teeth ( OR=5.55 , p<0.001 ) , and those in buccal/lingual smooth surfaces ( OR=15.6 , p=0.004 ) . CONCLUSION Annual application of either SDF solution or high fluoride-releasing glass ionomer can arrest active dentine caries . Increasing the frequency of application to every 6 months can increase the caries arrest rate of SDF application . CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE Arrest of active dentine caries in primary teeth by topical application of SDF solution can be enhanced by increasing the frequency of application from annually to every 6 months , whereas annual paint-on of a flowable glass ionomer can also arrest active dentine caries and may provide a more aesthetic outcome Objectives This study aim ed to test the hypothesis that there is no difference in the survival rates of molars treated according to the conventional restorative treatment ( CRT ) using amalgam , atraumatic restorative treatment ( ART ) using high-viscosity glass ionomer , and ultraconservative treatment ( UCT ) protocol after 3.5 years . Material s and methods Cavitated primary molars were treated according to CRT , ART , and UCT ( small cavities were restored with ART and medium/large cavities were daily cleaned with toothpaste/toothbrush under supervision ) . Molar extraction s result ing from toothache , sepsis , or pulp exposure were failures . The Kaplan – Meier method was used to estimate the survival curves . Results The numbers of treated teeth , among the 302 6–7-year-old children , were 341 ( CRT ) , 244 ( ART ) , and 281 ( for UCT group : 109 small ART , 166 open cavities , and 6 combinations ) . Protocol groups were similar at baseline regarding gender and mean decayed missing filled tooth score , but not regarding age and type of surface . The numbers of molars extracted were 22 ( CRT ) , 16 ( ART ) , and 26 ( UCT ) . Fistulae were most often recorded . After 3.5 years , the cumulative survival rate ± st and ard error for all molars treated was 90.9 ± 2.0 % with CRT , 90.4 ± 2.4 % with ART , and 88.6 ± 1.9 % with UCT ( p = 0.13 ) . Only a type of surface effect was observed over the 3.5-year period : survival rates for molars were higher for single- than for multiple-surface cavities . Conclusion There was no difference in the cumulative survival rates of primary molars treated according to the CRT , ART , and UCT protocol s over a 3.5-year period . Clinical relevance Keeping cavities in primary molars biofilm-free might be another treatment option alongside restoring such cavities through conventional and ART protocol OBJECTIVE To compare the survival of  glass ionomer cement ( GIC ) restorations placed in a dental clinic setting using both the atraumatic restorative treatment ( ART ) approach with h and instruments , and conventional cavity preparation with rotary instruments . METHOD AND MATERIAL S Two encapsulated high-strength conventional GICs ( Fuji IX GP , Ketac-Molar Aplicap ) were placed in 82 Class I and 53 Class II preparations and one encapsulated non-gamma 2 amalgam alloy ( GK-amalgam ) was placed in 32 Class I preparations , in the primary molars of 60 Chinese children with a mean age of 7.40 + /- 1.24 ( SD ) years . Thus , 9 treatment groups were formed . RESULTS After two years , there were no significant survival differences found among 7 of the 9 treatment groups ( p = 0.99 ) . However , two groups comprising Fuji IX GP and Ketac-Molar Aplicap placed in Class II cavities prepared using the ART approach showed significantly lower restoration survivals ( p < 0.001 ) . Only 3 of the 72 initially sealed fissures adjacent to the restorations appeared to retain any GIC material . CONCLUSIONS In a clinic setting , both the ART h and instrument and conventional rotary instrument methods were equally suitable for high Class I restoration survival , but not for Class II restoration survival where the conventional cavity preparation method was preferable Non-r and omised studies of the effects of interventions are critical to many areas of healthcare evaluation , but their results may be biased . It is therefore important to underst and and appraise their strengths and weaknesses . We developed ROBINS-I ( “ Risk Of Bias In Non-r and omised Studies - of Interventions ” ) , a new tool for evaluating risk of bias in estimates of the comparative effectiveness ( harm or benefit ) of interventions from studies that did not use r and omisation  to allocate units ( individuals or clusters of individuals ) to comparison groups . The tool will be particularly useful to those undertaking systematic review s that include non-r and omised studies Background The resin-based pit and fissure sealant is considered a successful tool in caries prevention , however there is a growing evidence of its use in controlling already established caries in posterior teeth . The aim of this clinical trial is to verify the efficacy of pit and fissure sealants in arresting dentinal caries lesions compared to partial excavation and restorative treatment in primary molar teeth . Methods Thirty six patients with occlusal cavitated primary molar reaching outer half of dentin were selected . The patients were r and omly allocated into two groups : sealant application ( experimental group – n = 17 ) and restoration with composite resin ( control group – n = 19 ) . Clinical and radiograph evaluation were performed after 6 , 12 and 18 months . The chi-square test was used to verify the distribution of characteristics variables of the sample among the groups . The survival rate of treatments was evaluated using Kaplan – Meier survival and log-rank test . Fisher ’s Exact and logistic regression tests were calculated in each evaluation period ( α = 5 % ) . Results The control group showed significantly better clinical survival after 18 months ( p = 0.0025 ) . In both groups , no caries progression was registered on the radiographic evaluations . Conclusions Sealing had similar efficacy in the arrestment of caries progression of cavitated occlusal lesions compared to partial excavation of the lesions , even though the frequency of re-treatments was significantly higher in sealed lesions . Trial registration Registro Brasileiro de Ensaios Clínicos ( ReBEC ) : Atraumatic restorative treatment ( ART ) and minimal intervention treatment ( MIT ) techniques were evaluated under field conditions in 5 regions of the Western Cape Province of South Africa , where caries prevalence exceeds 60 % and remains mostly untreated . The purpose of the study was to compare and evaluate results of  ART and MIT techniques in the primary dentition of 6 - 9 year-old schoolchildren using  glass-ionomer ( GI ) ( Fuji IX ) and compomer ( Dyract AP ) material s. At baseline 401 children were treated , and 1,119 restorations  placed by 5 calibrated dentists , 53 % with ART ( using h and instruments only ) and 47 % with MIT ( minimal use of slow h and -piece ) techniques . Evaluations were done with a CPI periodontal probe to measure marginal defects and to detect decay . A pain assessment for the restoration procedures indicated that 80 % of subjects experienced no pain , 18 % discomfort and slight pain , and 2 % required local anaesthetic . After one year 90.5 % of subjects and 80 % of restorations were followed up ( 11.1 % lost as a result of exfoliation ) ; of these restorations 86 % were clinical ly acceptable ( 84.1 % of the ART and 88 % of the MIT ) . With the art technique 82.7 % of GI restorations and 85.6 % , of compomer restorations were acceptable . With the MIT technique 86.5 % of GI restorations and 89.9 % of compomer restorations were acceptable . Success of restorations per region varied significantly : regions 1 and 2 - 90 % , region 3 - 80 % , region 4 - 70 % and region 5 - 95 % . There were no significant statistical differences in respect of material s or methods employed . ART and MIT techniques were well accepted as complementary caries approaches by operators . One-year results show that ART and MIT techniques were successful , substantiating its use for the primary dentition in areas with high caries prevalence . Longer-term assessment s are required Aims To prospect ively report on the survival of resin-modified glass ionomer cement ( RMGIC ) , photac-fil and pre-formed stainless steel crown ( SSC ) restorations in primary molar teeth placed over a seven-year period in a specialist paediatric dental practice under private contract of remuneration . Method All primary molar restorations placed by a specialist paediatric dentist over a seven-year period were review ed and the outcome results recorded . Data were recorded at review visits until June 30 , 2003 . Data recorded included Class I restorations , Class II restorations and SSC . The Class II cavities were either mesial or distal , with or without buccal/palatal extensions . If both proximal surfaces were decayed or if after cavity preparation the result ant outline form was significantly larger than the minimal classical form , RMGIC was not used ; an SSC was placed instead . Stainless steel crown preparation followed conventional guidelines . The crowns were cemented with reinforced zinc oxide and eugenol ( Kalzinol ) . The status was recorded as satisfactory restoration , tooth exfoliated , tooth extracted for orthodontic reasons with the date of extraction , or needing replacement . If replaced then the reason for replacement was also recorded . Results A total of 544 Class I RMGICs , 962 Class II RMGICs , and 1,010 SSCs  were placed . At the last review of each restoration , 98.3 % of Class I , 97.3 % of Class II RMGICs and 97.0 % of SSCs were either satisfactory or withdrawn intact . Conclusion Under the conditions of private specialist practice -based study SSCs continued to prove very successful for the restoration of larger cavities and for pulp-treated primary molar teeth . For the smaller cavities RMGIC were also very successful The aim of this study was to assess the possibility to arrest occlusal caries lesions in adults by sealant as well as to assess the presence of radiographic progression , arrest , and regression of the sealed lesions . Seventy-two occlusal caries lesions in 52 adult patients referred to restorative treatment by senior lecturers at School of Dentistry , Copenhagen , Denmark were included . In case the patient had more than one occlusal caries lesion , r and omization between sealing and restoration was made ; otherwise , the lesion was sealed . In total , 60 resin sealants and 12 composite restorations were made . Follow-up period was 25–38 months ( mean = 33 months ) . Data were analyzed using non-parametric statistics including kappa statistics . After 2–3 years , the dropout rate was 15 % ; two patients did not show up for control and nine previously sealed lesions were restored by the patients ' general practitioners . All 12 restorations and 39 of the remaining 49 sealants were well functioning , seven ( 14 % ) sealants were repaired/replaced due to failure , and three ( 6 % ) sealed lesions were restored due to caries progression ( p > 0.05 ) . The radiographic assessment showed caries progression beneath five ( 10 % ) sealants , caries regression beneath one ( 2 % ) sealant , and unchanged depth beneath 43 ( 88 % ) sealants and all restorations ( p > 0.05 ) . The majority of the referred lesions were successfully arrested by sealants , indicating the possibility for extending the criteria for sealing occlusal caries lesions in adults . However , a longer observation period is needed for final conclusion . Extending the criteria of therapeutic sealing of occlusal caries lesions in adults will lead to increased dental health BACKGROUND Silver diamine fluoride ( SDF ) is an effective agent for the arrest of caries in children , is easy to apply and can be used outside the clinical environment . Interim restorative treatment ( IRT ) using glass ionomer cement has also been cl aim ed to be a simple and effective method to arrest caries in deciduous teeth . OBJECTIVE To examine whether , for underprivileged schoolchildren with cavities , treatment with 30 % SDF gives better results than IRT for carries arrest . METHOD This r and omised controlled study compares the effect of IRT ( FUJI IX ) with 30 % SDF in 91 children aged 5 - 6 years . RESULTS After  
    Output:
    
Finally , two annual applications of silver diamine fluoride showed the best nonrestorative approach to arrest caries lesions on occlusal and smooth surfaces .
However , few of the included studies provided evidence to strongly recommend the best treatment option .