Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF)
Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) is a colorless, or sometimes blue tinted, liquid that is safe and effective for “arresting” or stopping dental caries from progressing. It works when it is applied topically on a cavity. It is appropriate for use in children with a high risk for caries and in children who will not tolerate treatment in the dental office because of their age or because they are unable to cooperate for treatment. Advantage Arrest™ Silver Diamine Fluoride 38% is the first drug to receive the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Breakthrough Therapy Designation for the arrest of tooth decay.
Continued application 1-2 times per year can allow delay of treatment in a young child and in some cases prevent treatment altogether. Silver diamine fluoride can also provide immediate relief from tooth hypersensitivity, kill pathogenic organisms that cause cavities, and harden softened dentin, making it more acid and abrasion resistant. Although SDF is new in the US, it has been approved for use to prevent cavities in Japan for over 80 years. This is a powerful tool in the fight against dental caries, particularly for those who suffer most from this disease.
