Silver Daimine Fluoride
Silver diamine fluoride (SDF), is a clear liquid that combines the antibacterial effects of silver and the re-mineralizing effects of fluoride, is a promising therapeutic agent for managing caries lesions in young children and those with special care needs. The fluoride component strengthens the tooth structure under attack by the acid byproducts of bacterial metabolism, decreasing its solubility, but SDF may also interfere with the biofilm, killing bacteria that cause the local environmental imbalance that demineralizes dental tissues.
The benefits of SDF are:
- Safe—clinical trials that have used it in more than 3800 individuals have reported no serious adverse events
- Effective—arrests approximately 80% of treated lesions
- Efficient—can be applied by health professionals in different health and community settings with minimal preparation in less than 1 minute
- Timely—its ease of application can allow its use as an intervention agent as soon as the problem is diagnosed
- Patient centered—is minimally invasive and painless
- Equitable—its application is equally effective and affordable
The only apparent drawback is that as the caries lesions become arrested, the precipitation of silver byproducts in the dental tissues stain the lesions black, which can be a deterrent for its use in esthetic areas. The other side effect is staining of the oral tissues which is temporary as it does not penetrate deeper layers of skin and it improves as the mucosa sheds.
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