Study Finds Silver Diamine Fluoride a Safe and Effective Treatment for Children’s Tooth Decay
Islamabad: A major U.S. medical study has found that 38% silver diamine fluoride (SDF) is a safe, simple, and effective treatment for tooth decay in young children, potentially reducing the need for painful drilling and general anesthesia.
According to the research, the SDF solution is applied directly to the decayed area of a tooth in just a few seconds. The treatment can stop the progression of cavities without the need for injections, drilling, or surgery.
The findings come from a Phase III clinical trial led by the University of Michigan, involving 830 children under the age of six. Researchers from universities in New York and Iowa also participated in the study, and the results were published in the medical journal JAMA Pediatrics.
The researchers reported that applying SDF every six months successfully halted tooth decay in more than half of the affected primary (baby) teeth.
Unlike conventional dental treatment, the SDF method does not require removing decayed tooth material or placing fillings. Instead, the solution is simply applied to the affected area.
Professor Margarita Fontana of the University of Michigan School of Dentistry, who led the study, said the treatment was found to be safe and effective even for children as young as one year old.
Experts say that if the treatment receives formal regulatory approval specifically for managing tooth decay, it could make dental care for young children more accessible, affordable, and far less invasive.
