Silver diamine fluoride, although an old medicament used over a century ago, is one of the hottest topics in dentistry over the last couple of years. Large amounts of current research have shown silver diamine fluoride to very effective in the treatment of tooth sensitivity and arresting (or halting) the progress of tooth decay. As a result of this research, we at Dentistry in Paradise have been using it for the past year and have been very pleased with the results.
Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) is a liquid solution that is placed on tooth surfaces and has the ability to stop decay without touching a drill to the tooth. This is helpful for patients that have cavities starting but are unable to have fillings at the time. Reasons for this include very young patients with difficulties cooperating in the dental chair, to older patients with compromised health or even patients that would eventually like fillings but are currently financially unable to. SDF has also shown to be very helpful in sensitive root surfaces that haven’t responded to traditional modalities like sensitive toothpastes.
Silver diamine fluoride is safe and effective, although it can cause some discoloration on the treated teeth. So it may not be ideal if cosmetics are a concern. Also, they are not recommended for patient with silver allergies.
While we are excited about this product, it does not replace the need for fillings or crowns to restore teeth, but running at around $80, can be a cost effective way to slow the decay process until definitive treatment can be done. Dr. Miller will make his diagnosis based on the extent and location of teeth decay. Call us today for your free consult!