When it comes to your child’s dental health, drilling and filling cavities is a process most parents and kids want to avoid. Now there is an alternative that many parents and dentists are opting for to treat tooth decay in kids – silver diamine fluoride. As with any emerging type of treatment, there are questions and concerns about silver diamine fluoride. Understanding more about this non-invasive intervention is the first step to evaluating whether it’s right for your child’s teeth.
What is Silver Diamine Fluoride?
Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) is a liquid topical solution, meaning it is applied to the outside of the teeth. The solution is 38% silver fluoride salt which is made water-soluble by the addition of small amounts of ammonia. The result is a liquid that dentists can easily paint onto teeth in just a few minutes.
How Does SDF Work?
SDF was cleared for use by the FDA in 2014. However, silver’s antibacterial properties have been known for centuries. Fluoride is a mineral that is known to strengthen and protect tooth enamel. SDF prevents tooth decay from progressing and helps harden the tooth structure softened by decay. The SDF solution discolors only the affected part of the tooth a black or dark brown color. For this reason, SDF is only applied to baby teeth or permanent teeth where it can’t be seen (the contact points).
Benefits of SDF
• Non-Invasive: Because SDF is a topical solution applied to the outside of a tooth it is a great alternative treatment to fillings and other cavity treatments. It is an especially good solution for special needs or very young children, as their level of cooperation may not be optimal for a filling.
• Safe: SDF has no reported health risks or reactions, so it’s a safe alternative to filling cavities. Since the dentist will paint SDF on the teeth, it’s also safer for children who might have trouble remaining still and calm in the exam chair.
• Cost-effective: Filling a cavity can be an expensive treatment option, but SDF treatment is at a much lower cost.
• Quick: Getting kids into the dentist chair can be stressful for both them and their parents. SDF is a quick treatment option for cavities, making it an especially attractive treatment for families with children who may not be able to sit in the chair for longer periods of time.
Follow-Up
The dentist follow up after the initial treatment to make sure the SDF is doing its job by taking an x-ray. Many people see their cavities arrested with just one treatment. If a single treatment doesn’t fully stop the cavity from growing, a dentist may recommend further applications.
The Problem of Kids and Cavities
Underestimating the danger of cavities in childhood can lead parents not to seek treatment. Tooth decay can have many negative consequences for the health and development of children. The impacts of cavities on kids are both short-term and long-term, even when it’s only baby teeth that are affected. Some of the short-term issues include:
• Significant pain
• Chewing difficulty
• Poor speech articulation
• Poor Sleep habits
• Lowered self-esteem
• Poor school performance
Cavities can even increase the chances of a child getting an infection in a different part of the body, like the ears and sinuses. If left untreated, cavities can lead to infections that damage developing permanent teeth. Cavities in kids now make it more likely for the child to suffer poorer dental health effects later.
Since prevention is the most ideal treatment option, there are a few thing parents can do to significantly reduce their child’s chances of developing cavities. For example, children who drink fluoridated tap water or take Fluoride supplements tend to have fewer cavities, as well as those who brush with fluoride toothpaste twice a day, floss, and rinse with Fluoride daily.
SDF vs. Drilling and Filling
Silver diamine fluoride treatment is one of the best alternatives to filling cavities in baby teeth. Of all the options for treating cavities and tooth decay in toddlers and children, SDF is the least invasive. Consider the alternative – classic fillings. The process requires around an hour at the dentist’s office. The dentist first uses Lidocaine to numb the teeth, gums and skin surrounding the mouth to prevent pain during the procedure. The dentist then drills the decay out of the affected teeth and replaces it with a composite resin or other material.
While the process of getting a filling is relatively short, it can be a scary ordeal for a child. The sound of the drill in combination with the strange sensation of mouth numbing can make a cooperative child become uncooperative. Because the drilling process must be precise, especially when handling smaller teeth, there is a certain level of cooperation that must be met in order to do fillings on young children. The complete filling procedure can be stressful, but it’s necessary to restore teeth in the long term.
Talk With Your Pediatric Dentist About SDF
Ultimately, the only way to determine whether silver diamine fluoride treatment is right for your child is to ask your pediatric dentist about it. Our dental team is trained and knowledgeable about this treatment. If you have any questions about SDF, please ask our clinical team.
