Silver Diamine Fluoride
There are many tools that dentists use to help children maintain healthy teeth and gums. One of those tools is silver diamine fluoride, an effective treatment that can help stop caries before they become serious. Some dentists use silver diamine fluoride as a non-invasive treatment for cavities. Silver diamine fluoride can stop cavities without requiring drilling or cavity fillings.
Do you have questions about silver diamine fluoride and other treatments? Talk to your child’s pediatric dentist in New Orleans, LA. We help parents decide whether this type of treatment is right for their child.
What Is Silver Diamine Fluoride?
While brushing and flossing can help prevent cavities, some children get cavities anyway. When this happens, the dentist may apply silver diamine fluoride.
This liquid medication can slow the progression of a cavity, or stop the progression entirely. This is a good option for children who have developmental disabilities, children who are very young and who may have a hard time sitting still for a cavity filling.
Silver diamine fluoride is also used to treat sensitive teeth. If this is a good option for your child, our dentist can talk to you about the advantages and disadvantages, so you can decide for yourself whether this makes sense for your child.
How is Silver Diamine Fluoride Applied?
One of the benefits of silver diamine fluoride is the easy application process. Application of this medication can be done by your child’s dentist at Uptown Pediatric Dentistry. Application is done without local anesthesia, which means that your child can enjoy the benefits of silver diamine fluoride without any anesthesia or sedation.
This is the process:
- The dentist will clean and dry the tooth with the cavity.
- The dentist will brush a small amount of silver diamine fluoride into your child’s tooth. The medicine is applied with a brush.
- The medication is absorbed into the tooth for a brief period – usually between 10 and 60 seconds.
- The dentist uses gauze or cotton to wipe off the rest of the silver diamine fluoride.
What to Expect With Silver Diamine Fluoride Application
Silver diamine fluoride is fast-drying and fast-acting. Once it’s applied, your child will be able to drink and eat their normal diet. Your child may notice a taste in their mouth – most likely a metal taste – that will last the rest of the day.
Any cavity where silver diamine fluoride is applied will be stained black. The healthy tooth enamel will not be stained, only the cavity. If the tooth is replaced by a permanent tooth, the permanent tooth will not have a black stain.
Silver diamine fluoride can stain your child’s gums or lips for a short time. It may cause a brown stain or a white stain on these tissues. This stain is temporary. The medication may also stain your child’s crowns or fillings if they have crowns or fillings. This stain is also temporary.
What to Expect After Treatment
After your child’s cavity is treated, the dentist will re-check your child’s teeth to ensure that the tooth decay has stopped. The dentist may ask you to bring your child back more quickly than usual to facilitate the examination. If your child needs the silver diamine fluoride to be reapplied, the dentist may do so in the months following the first treatment.
Is Silver Diamine Fluoride a Good Treatment for Your Child?
Your child may benefit from silver diamine fluoride if they have a cavity and are unable to sit still for a cavity filling. The dentist will check the severity of the cavity and consider your child’s unique case before recommending silver diamine fluoride or another form of treatment.
Regardless of whether your child has received this type of treatment, the dentist will still require your child to maintain their normal oral hygiene routine at home. All children need their teeth to be brushed regularly, and they need to see the dentist periodically for dental examinations.
Silver diamine fluoride may not be a great option for your child if they are allergic to silver or have canker sores in their mouth.
Don’t Delay Cavity Treatment
Cavities can cause children pain and discomfort when they’re eating and talking. Delaying cavity treatment can lead to a more serious problem like a dental infection. If your child’s cavity becomes too serious, the dentist may even recommend a root canal or tooth extraction. These procedures are far more invasive than silver fluoride diamine and may require sedation.
Signs Your Child Has a Cavity
Some children don’t experience any symptoms when they have a cavity. Here’s what to watch for:
- Pain when your child bites down
- Sensitivity when your child consumes hot or cold food or beverages
- Sensitivity when your child eats sugary foods
- Swelling around the face or gums
Silver Diamine Fluoride Frequently Asked Questions
What’s in silver diamine fluoride?
Silver diamine fluoride contains silver, fluoride, and ammonia.
Does silver diamine fluoride start working right away?
Silver diamine fluoride starts to work quickly. The dentist will ask you to bring your child back not long after it is applied to see if it is working.
Are there side effects of silver diamine fluoride?
Silver diamine fluoride is considered safe and side effects are mild. One thing that will happen is your child’s teeth will turn black where the silver diamine fluoride touches the cavity.
What else can I do to take care of my child’s teeth, in addition to silver diamine fluoride treatment?
Always brush your child’s teeth twice per day, and floss your child’s teeth if they have two teeth that touch. Bring your child to the dentist as often as the dentist recommends.
Can I apply silver diamine fluoride at home?
Although some pharmacies do sell silver diamine fluoride, this product is best applied at the dentist’s office.
Contact Us for Silver Diamine Fluoride Treatment Today
Does your child have a cavity? The pediatric dentist in New Orleans, LA can help. Call today to make an appointment.
