Silver Diamine Fluoride

Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF) is a liquid made up of fluoride and silver particles, that can stop the progress of an already formed cavity.  SDF is applied to an active area of decay (cavity) to kill the bacteria causing the cavity and strengthen the tooth. Treating cavities with SDF will permanently stain areas of active decay black. The healthy areas of the tooth will not be affected and will remain your child’s natural tooth color. The black color means the treatment is successful and can take several days to appear. It is also important that you are aware that this medicine will treat the bacteria causing tooth destruction, but it will not restore the tooth structure that has already been lost by the disease process. Your child may still require restorations (fillings, crowns, or nerve treatment) if there is already loss of tooth structure. 

What To Expect

• SDF only stains cavities, not healthy parts of a tooth.
• If SDF inadvertently touches your child’s skin or gums, you will see temporary staining of the skin. This is not a concern and the stains will fade within a few days. You may use a tissue soaked in warm soapy water to help remove staining on the skin. 

After SDF Application

• You can eat and and drink normally after SDF application. 
• For SDF to be effective, the treated areas need to remain free from plaque. This means following good homecare by brushing well twice a day and flossing are extremely important for SDF to work properly. A healthy diet is also very important to help reduce the risk of additional cavities and to help the effectiveness of SDF. Additional applications may be required.