The Silver Lining

Recently there has been a buzz about Silver Products in the dental field led by Silver Diamine Fluoride.  Specifically within the specialty of pediatric dentistry.  It is quite often that a young, apprehensive toddler is seen in a dental office with a mouth full of cavities.  The options for definitive treatment in this age group are limited by the behavior of the child, medical necessity, and medical risk.  Traditionally these patients would be treated with interim therapeutic restorations (band-aid fillings) in an attempt to slow down the progression of cavities until the patient could be managed, or general anesthesia.

General anesthesia is sometimes necessary to treat cavities in children and is routinely used to facilitate high quality dental care to children throughout the nation.  General anesthesia typically carries more risk than other treatment  modalities such as local anesthesia, or nitrous oxide oxygen supplementation (which may not be enough to facilitate definitive care).  However, if general anesthesia can be delayed to allow for a child to grow and develop the child’s risk may be reduced, or the need for general anesthesia may be eliminated.

In these young patients our office offers Silver Diamine Fluoride (S.D.F) as treatment modality to arrest cavity progression, and allow for children to grow and mature.  S.D.F is a compound that has been FDA approved for desensitization of teeth.  It contains silver which is antimicrobial, and fluoride which is beneficial in remineralizing teeth.  It has been shown to reduce the progression of 80% of cavities with two applications.  The downside is the cavities turn black, which may not appeal to some parents.  It also does not replace the need to place a restoration to restore function and esthetics to a tooth.  It cannot also treat every cavity, so close follow up and evaluation is necessary for children treated with S.D.F.

Many parents have questions about Silver Diamine Fluoride.  Our office is happy to offer this treatment modality and discuss the risks and benefits, and alternatives with each individual on a case by case basis.