Silver Diamine Fluoride
At Ridge Commons Family Dentistry, our approach is conservative and predictable. Teeth are very strong and if given the right tools, small cavities can heal on their own. One tool we use is called Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF).
What is SDF?
SDF is a medication that is applied directly on top of small cavities to prevent them from getting bigger. In some cases, SDF can help teeth heal completely! Once absorbed, the medicine will remineralize the natural structure of the tooth and prevent bacteria from forming colonies on the affected tooth surface.
Does it hurt?
The application of SDF is safe, painless, and quick! No shots are required and no drilling is necessary. At your appointment, we polish the area to remove plaque and apply SDF using floss and microbrushes directly onto the affected tooth surfaces for 2 intervals. Fluoride varnish is applied on all teeth after and we are done!
Just remember - no eating or drinking for 1 hour after the appointment.
What to expect?
The only downside to the application of SDF is purely aesthetics. The medication stains the areas of decay a dark color, and TEMPORARILY stains the tissue around the teeth a dark color as well. However, at RidgeCommons Family Dentistry, we take EXTRA precaution during the application of SDF to minimize as much staining around the site as possible ;)
SDF is most effective in combination with healthy oral hygiene. It is still very important to brush twice daily and floss before going to bed to prevent cavities. Not all cavities can be treated with SDF.
If you’d like to know more about SDF, please do not hesitate to ask us during your next appointment!
