Scientists find a simple way to stop cavities without drilling
A liquid brushed onto cavities in seconds may spare many young children from pain, infection, and surgery. A major U.S. trial found that silver diamine fluoride stopped decay in more than half of treated baby teeth. The treatment requires no drilling, shots, or sedation, although it does permanently darken the decayed area.
A new study has demonstrated the effectiveness of a low-cost liquid called silver diamine fluoride (SDF) in preventing cavities in young children without the need for drilling, injections, or sedation. Dentists apply SDF directly to the decayed area using a small sponge-tipped applicator, a process that takes only a few seconds per tooth.
Published in JAMA Pediatrics, the Phase III clinical trial involved 830 children under the age of 6 and found that applying SDF every six months stopped tooth decay in more than half of the affected baby teeth. This treatment, which has been used successfully in many countries for decades, could be particularly beneficial for very young children, older adults, people with disabilities, and patients with dental anxiety.
However, the silver in the solution permanently darkens the decayed part of the tooth. The study's lead investigator, Margherita Fontana, emphasized the importance of rigorous evidence for broader implementation of SDF in the United States, noting that it could lead to increased utilization by providers and enhanced payments by insurers.
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