Silver Diamine Fluoride Treatments – McKinney, TX
Stopping Cavities in Their Tracks
You want your child’s smile to flourish and remain free of damage, injury, disease, and decay. As parents, you strive to encourage and help them develop positive oral habits. Even if you are diligent about guiding and observing your child during their morning and nighttime routines, you may be unable to stop a problem if it’s already present in your child’s mouth. This is especially true with tooth decay; however, you can feel confident knowing that at Sprout Dentistry for Kids, Dr. Justin and Dr. Sage employ a solution that can stop decay in its tracks – Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF). Offering SDF treatment for kids in McKinney, our team can potentially save decayed teeth with this non-invasive and non-surgical option, while helping your child avoid more complex dental care in the future. If you want to learn more about this unique service, contact us today.
Why Choose Sprout Dentistry for Kids for Silver Diamine Fluoride Treatments?
- Led by two board-certified pediatric dentists
- Both dentists are also proud parents
- Safe and effective way to prevent tooth decay and strengthen enamel
What is Silver Diamine Fluoride?
Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF) is a liquid that is FDA-approved and applied topically to your child’s teeth. Not only does it protect against the damaging effects of tooth decay, but it can stop cavities from worsening.
SDF is a non-invasive treatment option that is applied directly to the tooth, and it can effectively kill harmful cavity-causing bacteria while also hardening tooth enamel. It serves as a conservative, non-surgical method of treatment to stop cavity growth until a more permanent restoration can be put into place. Your child can benefit greatly from SDF because of its ability to preserve healthy tooth enamel while arresting any decay that is currently present and preventing the lesion from progressing and injuring the tooth’s nerve (the pulp).
How Does It Work?
Should your child require silver diamine fluoride treatment, Dr. Justin or Dr. Sage will thoroughly clean your child’s teeth before applying the liquid substance. All plaque and tartar accumulations must be removed completely beforehand, and your child’s teeth will need to be fully dried.
Equipped with a small brush, they will carefully apply SDF to the surfaces of each tooth that is currently infected with decay. The SDF is then allowed to air dry. Typically, topical fluoride varnish is applied after completion of the SDF application. The entire process takes only a matter of minutes.
Applying SDF is quick, painless, and non-surgical. Your child can receive this beneficial treatment during a regular checkup, so there is no need to schedule a separate appointment.
The only caveat your child will need to abide by is forgoing eating or drinking for at least one hour after the substance is applied.
When Is It Recommended?
If you are unsure if your child should receive silver diamine fluoride treatment, a dentist who offers pediatric dentistry in McKinney can examine their smile and recommend it in certain situations, some of which include:
- Your child has signs of severe decay and cavities have started to form
- You have a child with special needs who experiences difficulty in effectively brushing and flossing their teeth
- Your child has difficulty cooperating and corresponding to certain treatments
- Their tooth enamel is experiencing demineralization, resulting in cavity formation
What Are Its Benefits?
By having your child’s pediatric dentist administer silver diamine fluoride during a regular visit, you will find the benefits include:
- A non-invasive treatment that leaves your child free of any pain and better protected against decay
- A safe and effective solution that can stop cavities from worsening
- An option for anxious children
- Faster treatment, so you and your child can resume normal activity much quicker than if they were to receive a definitive restoration
- Minimal or even non-existent tooth sensitivity following treatment.
Are There Any Special Considerations Prior to Silver Diamine Fluoride Treatment (SDF)?
Here is important information to consider before choosing SDF treatment:
- Teeth with decay treated by SDF may experience darkening of the color of the decayed regions to a brownish or even black color in appearance
- While safe and extremely effective in halting dental decay from progressing, recurrence of dental decay activity is highly dependent on multiple factors such as:
- The frequency and quality of brushing and flossing on a daily basis
- Risk for developing new or recurrent dental decay as related to diet
- Consistent, regularly scheduled dental exams and professional cleanings are recommended to closely monitor SDF treated teeth for signs of arrested lesions or possible need for re-application
- Re-application of SDF may be necessary if lesions continue to progress
- Definitive or permanent restoration such as tooth-colored fillings or crowns may still be recommend in certain cases following successful arrest of lesions in order to prevent fracture of teeth with large decay