Silver has been recognized as an anti-cavity drug for almost two centuries. In the late 1800’s, researches actually began recommending the use of silver nitrate to treat cavities in children. In the 1920’s, dentist began placing Howe’s Solution, which contained silver nitrate, on teeth as a treatment for cavity prevention. During that time, ammonia was added to the solution to make what we know today as Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF).
SDF is a colorless liquid that is made up of 38% fluoride, 25% silver, and 8% ammonia. Tooth decay is the most common chronic childhood disease. There are a couple of factors that causes a cavity but bacteria is the root cause of tooth decay. The silver works as an anti-microbial. It actually fights the bad bugs in a cavity that causes tooth decay. The fluoride remineralizes the decayed tooth structure and the ammonia stabilizes the solution.
In 2016, the New Times brought awareness of Sliver Diamine Fluoride (SDF) to America when it published an article titled “A Cavity-Fighting Liquid Lets Kids Avoid Dentists’ Drill.” But actually SDF has been used to arrest tooth decay and as an anti-sensitivity medicament in Japan and China since the early 1970’s. It has been used in other counties as well. Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, and Australia have been using SDF as a non-surgical treatment for tooth decay for almost 40 years. It is a very common treatment for dental decay in Japan. Over 20 million bottles of SDF has been sold in Japan since being approved for use in the oral cavity in the 1980.
In 2014, America finally recognized SDF as a benefit to oral health. The U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) gave approve for SDF as a medical device for treatment of dental hypersensitivity. This opened the door for dentists to begin safely and successfully using SDF as a cavity-arresting agent even though it is considered “off-label” use. In 2016, the FDA recognized SDF with a “breakthrough therapy” designation which should lead to SDF being approved as a drug to fight dental decay in the future.
Needless to say, the major advantage using SDF to treat dental decay is that there is no need to have the numbing shots or using the drill which alleviates the fear that most children have of going to the dentist. SDF takes one minute per tooth to apply and it cost considerably less than fillings. There are some major disadvantages. The main disadvantage is that it turns the decayed portion of the tooth black. Another major disadvantage is that currently insurance companies and Medicaid do not allow any benefits for this treatment. The treatment protocol is to have the patient return for a second application in one month. Also, if the cavity is large, many times a simple restoration is needed to protect the remineralized cavity. So it may take multiple trips to the dentist before the treatment is completed.
So is SDF a miracle cure for tooth decay? It is a proven fact that SDF is a cavity-arresting medicine. It stops decay in most cavities, but it is not a cure for dental decay. It is simply an additional treatment option that a dentist can use to treat dental decay. SDF does have limitations, but is seen in the dental profession as a cavity-arresting tool to put in the dentists’ tool box for treating tooth decay and improving oral health.
