Health

What to Know About Silver Diamine Fluoride

When it comes to the oral health of your young one, you want to try as much as possible to avoid drilling and filling cavities. You will always seek an alternative that does not stress your child, and silver diamine fluoride does precisely this. Given that it is still relatively new in the pediatric dentistry industry, many parents have questions regarding using Silver Diamine Fluoride in Perris as a cavity treatment for children. To determine whether this treatment will benefit your child’s dental health, you first need to learn more about it.

In this article, we cover everything you need to know about silver diamine fluoride.

What Is Silver Diamine Fluoride?

Silver diamine fluoride is a liquid treatment applied topically to a decaying tooth using a special floss or a small brush. It contains 38% silver and a small amount of ammonia to make it water-soluble. While many dental institutions have used SDF for years worldwide, it was only approved by the FDA in 2014.

How Does It Work?

SDF can stop or slow down decay thanks to two of its main ingredients. Silver has antibacterial properties and low toxicity to human beings, which makes it suitable for human use. Fluoride speeds up the process of remineralizing the tooth enamel by saliva. It also increases the enamel’s resistance to future decay and degradation from acids. Fluoride also contains some antimicrobial properties.

The primary uses of silver diamine fluoride in the dental field include stopping tooth decay from spreading and maintaining the stability of the affected teeth until the dentist recommends further action.

Does SDF Have Any Side Effects and Risks?

The fact that silver diamine fluoride does not present any health risks or side effects offers one of its most significant benefits. The only risk is aesthetics; it causes the decayed part of the tooth to blacken due to oxidation. It does not cause the enamel to darken. It can also cause any tissues it comes into contact with, such as the lips and gums, to blacken, but the stain only stays for days or weeks. However, the darkened part of the tooth remains permanent.

You may also experience a mild irritation that goes away after a few minutes if SDF comes into contact with soft tissues in the mouth cavity. Apart from that, it does not present any health risks or side effects.

How Is SDF Applied?

The process of applying SDF lasts only a few minutes and does not cause any pain. The dentist starts by cleaning the tooth affected to remove any debris from maximum contact. Since the tissues can stain if they come into contact with the solution, the dentist isolates the affected tooth. They then dry the tooth with dry gauze or compressed air and apply the solution using a micro brush. A single drop of SDF can treat as many as eight teeth simultaneously.

To summarize, silver diamine fluoride presents a less stressful way of dealing with tooth decay in children. It contains silver, antibacterial properties, and fluoride, which speeds up the remineralization of teeth and strengthens the enamel. SDF can blacken the treated site permanently and any tissues it comes into contact with, although it fades after a few days or weeks. The treatment process takes a couple of minutes.

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