Stop cavities without drilling
Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) is a liquid that is painted onto a cavity to stop it from growing. There is no drilling, no freezing and no discomfort, which makes it ideal for young children, anxious patients and anyone who cannot sit through a filling. Bathurst Centre Dental Care offers silver diamine fluoride treatment in Thornhill for families from Vaughan, Markham, Richmond Hill and North York.
What is silver diamine fluoride?
Silver diamine fluoride is an odourless, colourless liquid. The medicinal ingredient is 38% silver diamine fluoride (25% silver, 5% fluoride, 8% ammonia). The silver kills the bacteria that cause decay and the fluoride hardens the remaining tooth structure.
Effective
Outperforms other anti-cavity treatments in killing decay-causing bacteria.
Quick
Application takes less than 5 minutes.
Gentle
No air or water spray, no instruments and no freezing.
Who is silver diamine fluoride for?
Silver diamine fluoride halts the progress of an existing cavity. It is a good option for:
Young children
Children 3 years and older who have difficulty sitting through a filling appointment. SDF delays the progression of a cavity until the child is older and able to sit through a regular appointment, reducing the chance the child will need sedation for treatment.
Adults with medical needs
Adults with medical issues that prevent them from getting a more permanent treatment such as a filling, and seniors with root cavities that are hard to restore.
Anxious patients
Patients with dental anxiety or a strong gag reflex who need decay controlled while they build up to further treatment.
Teeth awaiting treatment
Cavities that will be restored later, or baby teeth that will fall out on their own before a filling is practical.
How is silver diamine fluoride applied?
The process of applying silver diamine fluoride is very straightforward:
Dry and isolate
The surface of the affected tooth is dried and isolated with cotton rolls.
Apply
SDF is applied to the affected area and allowed to soak in for 60 seconds.
Dry
If no varnish is applied, the surface is allowed to dry completely.
Repeat
The process is repeated in 1 to 3 weeks, then reapplied every 6 months to 1 year.
What are the side effects of silver diamine fluoride?
The decayed areas of teeth treated with silver diamine fluoride become stained dark brown or black. Staining is actually the indicator that the treatment is working. Silver diamine fluoride will not stain sound, healthy enamel or dentin. Some patients notice a brief metallic taste, and the liquid can cause a temporary white or brown mark if it touches the gums or skin, which fades within days. We take care to apply it only to the tooth.
Is silver diamine fluoride approved in Canada and the United States?
Yes. Silver diamine fluoride, sold in Canada under the brand Advantage Arrest, is approved by Health Canada for arresting the progress of an already-formed cavity in primary and permanent teeth.
In 2016, silver diamine fluoride was granted the first ever FDA breakthrough therapy designation for an oral care product for its ability to stop tooth decay. This designation represents the FDA’s effort to address an unmet, serious medical need where there is no available therapy and to expedite the review of such products. The designation was granted based on the FDA review of 10 worldwide randomized clinical trials evaluating silver diamine fluoride for cavities in children aged 3 to 9 or adults aged 60 to 89. Collectively these trials involved 1,500 subjects who were monitored for 1 to 3 years.
Silver diamine fluoride FAQs
No. The liquid is simply painted onto the tooth. There is no drilling, no needle and no freezing, and the visit takes only a few minutes. Most children tolerate it easily.
Only the decayed part of the tooth turns dark. Healthy enamel does not stain. On back teeth the stain is rarely noticeable; on front teeth it can be visible, and we will discuss this with you before treatment. The stained area can later be covered with a filling if desired.
No. SDF stops the cavity from growing but does not rebuild the missing tooth structure. For baby teeth that will fall out soon, that may be all that is needed. For other teeth, a filling or crown may still be placed later, when the patient is ready.
A second application is usually done 1 to 3 weeks after the first, then the tooth is checked and SDF reapplied every 6 to 12 months at your regular visits for as long as it is needed.
Yes. SDF has been used for decades in Japan and other countries and is approved in Canada and the United States. The amount of fluoride in a single application is very small. It is not used on patients with a silver allergy or on teeth with signs of nerve infection, which your dentist checks first.
Fluoride varnish helps prevent cavities and strengthens enamel. Silver diamine fluoride does that and also kills the bacteria inside an existing cavity, stopping it from spreading. Varnish does not stain; SDF stains the decayed area.
Many dental plans cover SDF as a preventive or caries-arrest treatment, but coverage varies. The CDCP covers fluoride treatments for eligible patients. We can confirm your coverage before treatment. CDCP at our clinic.
Is silver diamine fluoride right for your child?
Book an appointment at our Thornhill clinic and we will examine the tooth, explain the options and help you choose the gentlest effective treatment. Ceiling TVs with Netflix Kids help little ones relax.
Hi there,
I have 4yrs 11months son who has cavities and bad teeth. Looking for other options then having a general anaesthesia, so I like to try SDF topical cream on his teeth. Can you give me an earliest appointment? I live in London Ontario and hope my manulife insurance covers it. Can I know how much is per treatment?
Thank you
Chime
Hi Chime, thank you for contacting us. Our receptionist will get back to you as soon as possible during our regular office hours.
HI,MY 3 AND HALF YEAR OLD SON HAS FRONT FOUR YEETH DECAYED ,I CONSULT WITH THE DENTIST HE SUGGEST EXTRACTION UNDER GENERAL ANSTESIA,BUT I AM TOO SCARY WITH USE OF GA .I WULD LIKE TO CONSULT YOU REGARDING SDF TREATMENT
Hi Jaspreet, please contact us at 905-707-8008 or [email protected] to book an exam for your son, and I will help you determine if SDF is a good treatment for him.
I have a four year old little one who would like to get full mouth SDF treatment, can I get a quote for that? and how many times do we need to do in total- I was told 3 times, interval in one month.
Notes: we have taken x-ray this month so we do not want to repeat it this year for safety consideration. The previous dentist suggested general anaesthesia which we do not want to do it .
Hi Jessie,
Thank you for your inquiry. Our office manager will contact you during our regular business hours with an approximate quote for the Silver Diamine Fluoride treatment. There is no need for new x-rays; you can forward a copy of the recent x-rays to our office at [email protected] before your appointment. The first appointment will include an initial exam to determine if your son is a good candidate for SDF treatment. If he is, we will proceed with the first SDF application. The manufacturer instruction is to repeat the application again in 1-3 weeks for the highest chance of stopping the cavity and to reapply at intervals of every 6 months until either the baby teeth are replaced with permanent teeth, or until he is able to tolerate regular filling appointments.
Is Silver Diamine Fluoride treatment only for kids ?
I have small cavity and would be interested in this treatment instead of drilling.
Thank you.
Hi Lina, Silver Diamine Fluoride can be used for adults too. The Advantage Arrest used in our office recommends a second application 1-3 weeks after an initial application, then reapplication at intervals of 6 months to 1 year. It is a great tool for adults who are immuno-compromised and cannot endure dental procedures, or adults with enamel cavities that are under observation (do not require filling yet). However, areas treated with Silver Diamine Fluoride should be under observation by a dentist and should be treated with fillings if cavities continue to progress. For more information, you can visit the manufacturer’s website below.
https://oralscience.com/en/products/advantage-arrest/