Silver Diamine Fluoride, called SDF for short, is an alternative to dental fillings for baby teeth. SDF consists of a mixture of silver, fluoride, ammonia, and water that’s “painted” onto a cavity. This mixture hardens and seals the tooth, preventing any further decay and eliminating the need for a dental filling.
While it’s not always an option for every cavity, SDF is a fantastic alternative to dental fillings for many kids. If your child has a cavity in one of their baby teeth and you’d like to avoid getting a filling, SDF from Dr. Michael Wang at Mission Peak Pediatric Dentistry may be the right choice.
First, our team will gently clean and dry your child’s tooth to remove debris, and prepare it for the silver diamine fluoride material. This ensures that the liquid can bond tightly to your little one’s tooth.
Our Fremont pediatric dentist will dip a small brush into a container of SDF, and apply this liquid directly to your child’s tooth, where it will be absorbed for about a minute. Then, he will apply a layer of fluoride varnish on top of the tooth. This provides further protection and stops the silver diamine fluoride from being washed away by saliva.
For maximum effectiveness, SDF must be reapplied once or twice per year, depending on the patient. Dr. Wang can re-apply SDF as part of your child’s routine six-month teeth cleanings and oral exams. This will continue until your child’s baby tooth falls out and is replaced by an adult tooth.
SDF is only used to treat cavities in baby teeth. This is because it’s a highly effective way to halt the progression of cavities, and is particularly good for kids who may be afraid of dental drills and tooth fillings. However, it does discolor the treated tooth, turning parts of it a black-gray color. This is fine for baby teeth since they’re meant to fall out and be replaced by healthy adult teeth.
However, this is not ideal for adult teeth. If your child has a cavity in an adult tooth, we will typically recommend an alternative treatment like a dental filling or a dental crown, depending on the extent of the cavity.
SDF is only used to treat cavities in baby teeth. This is because it’s a highly effective way to halt the progression of cavities, and is particularly good for kids who may be afraid of dental drills and tooth fillings. However, it does discolor the treated tooth, turning parts of it a black-gray color. This is fine for baby teeth since they’re meant to fall out and be replaced by healthy adult teeth.
However, this is not ideal for adult teeth. If your child has a cavity in an adult tooth, we will typically recommend an alternative treatment like a dental filling or a dental crown, depending on the extent of the cavity.
Not at all. SDF treatment involves no shots, pills, drills, or any other invasive steps. Dr. Wang will simply clean your child’s tooth, coat it with SDF and fluoride, and let it dry. That’s it! This makes things easy for kids, especially kids who may be afraid of the dentist.
SDF usually lasts between 3-12 months, depending on the child. This means that Dr. Wang will have to re-apply SDF multiple times to keep your child’s tooth healthy. Our team will continue applying SDF to protect your child’s tooth until their baby tooth is replaced by a healthy adult tooth.
Make sure they brush and floss properly, and eat a healthy diet that’s low in sugar, particularly sugary drinks. Coming to Mission Peak Dentistry every six months for a checkup and a teeth cleaning will also help keep your little one’s teeth healthy.
