Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF) — a Treatment for Tooth Decay?
A liquid substance called Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) helps prevent cavities from developing, expanding, and spreading to other teeth. The materials helping make SDF include silver to kill bacteria, water providing it a liquid base, fluoride to help teeth build lost minerals, and ammonia to ensure the solution remains concentrated, making it effective against cavity resonance.
Over eight decades ago, Japan approved SDF for use. However, the US FDA approved SDF for use only in 2014. SDF is believed to be a class II medical appliance indicating it carries minor risks. For example, pregnancy tests and condoms are also considered class II medical appliances. Some stores sell SDF for home use, but it is generally used safely in dental clinics.
How to Use Silver Diamine Fluoride?
Dentists use silver diamine fluoride in liquid form containing 38 percent SDF solution. They apply it topically directly on the surface of the teeth. Dentists use the following steps when applying silver diamond fluoride.
Dentists place cotton or gauze close to the affected teeth to prevent saliva from contaminating the teeth. They remove moisture from the tooth’s surface using a vacuum tool. The tooth area affected by a cavity receives an application of SDF directly. The pediatric dentist 10583 may also use to cover the areas with holes using the following materials. Glass ionomer, crowns, and opaquer.
Generally, SDF is used in areas affected by tooth decay. Silver diamine fluoride is also helpful when used as a preventive dentistry method and applied to healthy tooth surfaces. Research suggests dentists can help avoid treating cavities with fillings or modify tooth surfaces before applying SDF. Conventionally dentists use fluoride varnish to prevent cavity development. However, SDF is more successful at cavity prevention than conventional fluoride treatments. In addition, SDF doesn’t require frequent applications. While no numbers are available on how many applications are needed for SDF to function, dentists generally apply SDF once yearly. Fluoride warmish often needs four applications annually.
How Does Silver Diamine Fluoride Help in Prevent Tooth Decay?
SDF is effectively seen as helpful to stop Cavity development after it has formed, giving it the name cavity resonance. Silver diamine fluoride helps kill the bacteria breaking down tooth surfaces besides preventing their spread to other teeth.
Children benefit from silver diamine fluoride in Scarsdale, NY, if they are not cooperative during dental procedures because an application of SDF doesn’t require the pediatric dentist to indulge in drilling activities. The lack of drilling makes SDF comfortable for adults as well. In addition, if you are sensitive to dental instruments and substances used during cavity treatments, SDF can help you overcome sensitivity and dental anxiety.
SDF helps minimize cavities or prevents them entirely if you think you cannot make it to your dentist’s office for routine checkups and don’t feel comfortable going through cavity procedures. The treatment is quick without special equipment and only needs one yearly application.
Side Effects of Silver Diamine Fluoride
Minimal side or harmful effects are associated with using SDF by the pediatric near me on children’s teeth, making it an effective treatment option even for young children. However, before giving children an application for SDF, pediatric dentists inquire whether they are allergic to silver or oral ulcerations and check for gum disease or severe tooth decay exposing the dental pulp. In such cases, children might experience painful adverse effects of SDF from the ammonia and acids.
SDF can discolor teeth where applied, leaving black stains beside the surfaces it contacts during the application, including clothing or nearby mouth tissues. However, research suggests using potassium iodide with SDF can minimize staining. A mixture of SDF can also change color to black when exposed to light.
Another study reveals that using nanosilver fluoride limits the staining effects of SDF. However, additional research is essential to ensure nano silver fluoride is just as effective as silver diamine fluoride in inhibiting cavities over the long term. In addition, NSF needs more applications than SDF to succeed similarly.
Silver diamine fluoride is a safe alternative to conventional cavity drilling procedures. However, dentists may only suggest SDF for some cavities because it is not widely available, as fluoride varnish serving a similar purpose. However, SDF has proven successful in inhibiting the development and spread of tooth decay, although more effective forms that don’t leave discoloration are under ongoing testing.
If your child is fussy about getting cavities filled and is uncooperative, Smile Scarsdale can help them by applying silver diamine fluoride to prevent the spread and development of tooth decay. Consult the practice today with your child to have them receive a comfortable treatment that helps inhibit cavities.