When it comes to maintaining the oral health of your child, finding effective and child-friendly dental care is essential. One new pediatric treatment that has recently been gaining popularity is Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF). SDF is effective when it comes to stopping and preventing tooth decay, but it does pose some concerns such as tooth discoloration. At Kid Focus Dentistry in Wheat Ridge, CO, we prioritize the well-being of your child and offer a range of advanced dental treatments to keep their smiles bright and healthy. Here’s what parents need to know about SDF:
What is Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF)?
Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF) is a liquid substance containing silver particles, fluoride, and ammonia. It has been used in Japan for decades and is gaining recognition worldwide as an effective and minimally invasive treatment for treating small areas of tooth decay in children. SDF acts by killing bacteria that cause cavities and by strengthening the tooth structure.
SDF can be placed onto areas with small cavities to stop their progression, preventing the need for a filling in some cases.
How Effective is Silver Diamine Fluoride in Preventing Tooth Decay?
Multiple studies have shown the remarkable efficacy of SDF in preventing the spread of minor tooth decay in children. When applied to tooth surfaces with early stage cavities, it can halt the progression of the decay. In other words, it prevents the need for more invasive treatments like dental fillings, crowns, or even dental extractions.
SDF has been particularly effective in managing cavities in young children, patients with special needs, or those who are uncooperative during traditional dental procedures without the use of sedation. In other words, our Wheat Ridge kid’s dentists can apply the SDF to a small cavity instead of using a filling. It buys your child time. Regular applications of SDF can significantly reduce the need for extensive dental treatments, making it an invaluable tool in pediatric dentistry. As your child gets older and their decayed baby tooth falls out, it’s replaced with a healthy permanent one; the neighboring teeth typically stay cavity-free too.
What is the Process of Applying Silver Diamine Fluoride to Children’s Teeth?
The application of SDF is a quick and painless procedure that can be performed during your child’s routine dental visit. First, the tooth surface is cleaned thoroughly to remove any debris. Them the SDF solution is applied directly to the decaying area using a small brush or cotton swab. The solution dries quickly, forming a protective barrier over the tooth. In some cases, a fluoride varnish may be applied on top of the SDF to enhance its benefits.
SDF cavity treatment in What Ridge only takes a few minutes, making it ideal for young children who may have difficulty sitting still for longer procedures.
Will Silver Diamine Fluoride Stain or Discolor Children’s Teeth?
Unfortunately, yes.
One concern parents often have about SDF is its potential to stain or discolor their child’s teeth. While it is true that SDF can cause a black or dark brown discoloration on the treated area, this is only a cosmetic effect and does not harm the tooth structure. It’s one of the reasons why we typically only place SDF on primary (baby) teeth, which will eventually fall out. It’s important to remember that the benefits of preventing new areas of decay far outweigh the temporary cosmetic side-effects.
Schedule Your Child’s Consultation Today
At Kid Focus Dentistry, we understand the importance of providing safe and effective dental treatments for your child. Silver Diamine Fluoride offers a promising solution for treating small cavities without fillings or crowns. If you’re interested in exploring SDF as a non-invasive cavity treatment for your child, schedule a consultation with our experienced kid’s dentists today!