Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) shows promise as a simple, minimally invasive treatment that can stop caries before it progresses to pain, infection, emergency care, or surgery, according to news from the University of Michigan.
Furthermore, its effectiveness and safety may provide the evidence needed to support U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval as a drug for treating caries, according to the story published July 27.
“This is a very effective and safe treatment -- even in children as young as 1,” Dr. Margherita Fontana, PhD, professor at the university’s dental school and lead author of the study, said in the story.
SDF has been used successfully by dentists in many countries for decades and has been prescribed off-label in the U.S. since 2014, when it received FDA clearance to treat tooth sensitivity. Despite its widespread use, SDF has lacked the large U.S. clinical trials needed to demonstrate the safety and effectiveness required for FDA approval as a cavity treatment.
To address this gap, the researchers enrolled 830 children under 6 years old through dental offices, pediatric medical practices, and Head Start and Early Head Start programs in Michigan, New York, and Iowa. The study found that 38% SDF halted tooth decay in more than half of affected primary teeth when applied every six months, according to the story.
Unlike traditional caries treatment, which requires removing decayed tooth structure before placing a filling, SDF is brushed onto the cavity. This minimally invasive approach may be especially beneficial for young children, older adults, individuals with physical or developmental disabilities, patients with severe dental anxiety, and those with limited access to conventional dental care.
For many children, periodic SDF applications may control decay until the affected primary tooth naturally falls out. In adults, SDF may provide a long-term option for managing caries or serving as a temporary solution until restorative treatment becomes practical or affordable, according to the story.
However, one limitation of SDF is that the silver may permanently stain the decayed area of the tooth, which may be a cosmetic concern for some patients.
“Our results support FDA approval of SDF for managing arrest of tooth decay in young children,” Dr. Amr Moursi, PhD, professor at New York University College of Dentistry and co-author of the study, said in the story.
