Older Adult Effectiveness of 2 Treatments

The study is a cluster randomized clinical trial (RCT) to be conducted in 40 (22 originally planned +16 additional) publicly subsidized housing facilities/sites (HUD Section 202) and other low-income housing voucher programs in NE Ohio. The facilities will be randomized to 2 arms: Arm 1 (20 sites) - Participants will receive biannual silver diamine fluoride (SDF) versus Arm 2 (20 sites): Participants will receive atraumatic restorative treatment (ART) with glass ionomer cement (GIC) + biannual fluoride varnish (FV) application. A total of 590 (550 originally planned + 40 additional) participants (Arm 1: 295, Arm 2: 295) will be followed for one year (baseline, 26 weeks, 52 weeks). The protocol for each arm will address both coronal and root surface tooth decay lesions: Arm 1: The treatment will be bi-annual topical 38% SDF(Advantage Arrest, Elevate Oral Care LLC., West Palm Beach, FL) following manufacturer's instructions and published guidelines; Arm 2: The treatment will be ART will be a modification where the cavity will be restored with high viscosity glass-ionomer cement (GIC) (GC Fuji Automix LC Resin Reinforced Glass Ionomer Restorative, Japan)). Patients will also receive biannual topical fluoride varnish treatments (FluoriMax, Elevate) according to manufacturer's instructions.