Table 1 Themes emerging from the interviews with parents and children
| Themes | Sub themes | Topics within the theme | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Interviews with parents | Perceptions of SDF | Perceived advantages of SDF |
Minimal child’s cooperation required Non-invasive stress-free treatment The possibility of saving the tooth from extraction Promoting good oral health |
| Aesthetics |
The black staining of arrested lesions Minimising the staining to improve acceptability | ||
| Factors influencing decision making | Perceptions of others |
Bullying at schools or nurseries Other people’s judgment | |
| Relative visibility of the tooth | Anterior or posterior tooth | ||
| Self-consciousness | Child’s age/gender’s impact on parent’s decision | ||
| Longevity of tooth | Conflicting views on when SDF was most advantageous | ||
| Relative merits of alternative approaches |
Saving the tooth from extraction Avoiding GA Choosing between SDF and HT | ||
| Preferences and recommendations of others involved in treatment |
Child’s preferences Dentist’s recommendations | ||
| Financial considerations | The cost to the NHS | ||
| Child tolerance of treatment | Child’s sensitivity to strange smells or tastes | ||
| Interviews with children | Child’s acceptability of SDF | Relative visibility of the tooth |
Anterior or posterior tooth Size of the carious lesion |
| Peers’ perceptions | Fears of bullying by peers at nurseries or schools | ||
| Previous experience | Impact of previous dental treatment experience (positive and negative) on child’s treatment preferences |