Silver diamine fluoride as a minimally invasive and aerosol free approach in pediatric dentistry: An extensive case series

Abstract

The current pandemic of COVID-19 warrants a repeal from conventional dentistry to an aerosol free, minimally invasive yet maximally effective clinical approach. Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) is an established modality for caries arrest in children fulfilling all the above. This extensive 25 case series highlights various clinical situations in which SDF was successfully used in children between 1-12 years of age with asymptomatic carious lesions of ICDAS score 2 or more in primary and permanent teeth. Primary outcome measure was caries arrest in the form of the hard and shiny lesion with no/minimal sensitivity. The secondary outcome measure was the zombie effect which was the residual staining on other tooth surfaces and indications of substantivity. SDF can be effectively and efficaciously used across different behaviour patterns and age groups of children in a various clinical scenario for both primary and permanent teeth routinely experienced in a paediatric dental office especially during these pandemic times with minimal aerosol generation.