clinic theory III silver diamine fluoride

advantages of silver diamine fluoride

• stops decay

• pain relief

• minimally invasive

• gel formulation

how SDF stops decay

• silver acts as a powerful antimicrobial to kill bacteria, while fluoride remineralizes the tooth and stops further decay

How SDF relieves pain

• provides immediate relief from dental hypersensitivity

How is SDF minimally invasive

• requires no drilling, anesthesia, or water

• applications take less than 5 minutes

SDF gel formation

• alongside the traditional liquid, a tinted blue gel formula is available

• is thick and stays exactly where applied, preventing it from dripping onto adjacent healthy teeth or surrounding tissues

disadvantages of SDF

• permanent staining

• temporary skin staining

• does not restore tooth structure

• potential reapplication

SDF staining

• will permanently blacken the decayed or demineralized area of the tooth (not healthy, sound enamel)

SDF skin staining

• accidental exposure to skin will cause a temporary, harmless dark stain that typically fades within a few days

SDF and tooth structure

• While it arrests the decay, it does not fill the physical hole left by the cavity

• Composite filling may still be needed later for cosmetic or structural purposes, such as glass ionomer cement (advantage of fluoride release)

D1355

• CDT code for silver diamine fluoride application on each tooth

• caries preventive medicament application for incipient lesions

D9910

• Code for silver diamine fluoride application used if applied for desensitization