Silver Diamine Fluoride is an antimicrobial liquid painted on teeth to kill bacteria to help stop cavities and prevent future decay. Silver Diamine Fluride aids in the treatment of the caries (cavities) disease process by removing the bacteria that are the crux of the issue.
“The human body has an amazing potential to heal itself, if it is allowed to do so. This is true even for cavities! My goal is always to achieve dental health with the least invasive treatment possible, and SDF is a critical tool in this process. For many patients, SDF allows us to avoid the common "drill and fill" approach to children's teeth. Instead we can simply paint the tooth, killing the bacteria that is causing the cavity and allowing the tooth to remineralize or exfoliate naturally.”
Silver Diamine Fluoride can be used as a preventative measure to reduce the risk of developing tooth decay - also - it is very helpful in treating hyper-sensitivity. But most often it is applied to active decay to stop it from progressing further into the tooth. The antibacterial properties keep the decay from spreading and protects the tooth structure from future damage. SDF helps eliminate the need for more invasive procedures like fillings or crowns and it helps to create a healthy oral environment for our adult teeth.
Applying SDF to the area of decay is an easy and painless process. This makes for a much more positive and comfortable experience for your child over traditional drilling (surgical) treatments. We simply brush (paint) over the active decay. It is completely painless so there is no need for anesthesia or shots.
The arrival of Silver Diamine Fluoride has made the treatment of childhood tooth decay so much easier, more comfortable, and less invasive for patients. SDF has been an amazing tool in the aim of disease prevention and treatment.
There are very few adverse side effects of Silver Diamine Fluoride. The application does leave behind an indicator that it did its job effectively by depositing a black stain where the decay was living. The stain does remain on the tooth - however - the benefits of SDF far outweigh the minor cosmetic blemish.
Silver Diamine Fluoride is much cheaper than a filling or tradional restoration. Also, it protects the tooth from further damage which reduces the risk of needing a more expensive and invasive restorative procedure down the road. SDF is being covered by more and more insurances every year. Parents are also able to use Flex Spending Dollars for the treatment as well.
To view evidence-based literature on the mechanism, rationale, and benefits of SDF, please click on the following links: