Our dentists in Hungington Beach CA provide Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF) treatment, a revolutionary treatment option for the management of dental cavities. It is an antimicrobial liquid that’s able to treat cavities in a non-invasive, fast, affordable, and painless manner.
SDF’s first use dates back to the 1800s as silver nitrate to treat cavities. As time went on, it fell out of favor with the public due to better anesthesia options to deliver “painless” dentistry, and the availability of fluoridated toothpastes, which was expected to eradicate tooth decay. Although fluoride has helped reduce the incidence of tooth decay, it is still widely prevalent.
The Oregon Medicaid System and the University of California-San Francisco, School of Dentistry, have been instrumental in bringing SDF back to the dental field. The FDA approved SDF in August 2014, and it became available in April 2015 to dental professionals as Advantage Arrest by Elevate Oral Care.
SDF takes a different approach from the traditional dental drill. It is a liquid that gets brushed onto the cavity, to stop current tooth decay and help to prevent recurring decay in a quick, affordable, painless, and non-invasive manner.
SDF enables Dr. Chu and Dr. Yu to offer additional treatment options to patients who are young, fearful, pre-cooperative, have special needs, or are medically compromised. These patients might otherwise require general anesthesia or sedation in order to undergo traditional dental restorations.
Though SDF has very low toxicity, it does stain cavities permanently black. It also does not restore tooth form or function, so after application, the teeth will need to be restored with fillings or crowns. Repeated application of SDF is required for maximum efficacy. SDF cannot be used if the decay has penetrated into the dental nerve, or in the presence of infection.
Think of SDF as a specialized "cavity-fighting" liquid. It’s an antimicrobial medicine that we simply paint onto the decayed part of a tooth.
Because it’s just a liquid applied with a tiny brush, there’s no vibration, no noise, and no shots. It doesn’t "fill" the hole or change the shape of the tooth, but it freezes the decay in its tracks so the problem doesn't get worse.
Yes. It’s been used in Japan since the 1970s and was cleared by the FDA here in 2014. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) fully backs it as a safe, effective way to manage decay in kids.
It’s applied in such a tiny, controlled amount that it’s essentially harmless to the rest of the body. The only real "danger" is if your child has a rare silver allergy—so definitely let us know if that’s the case!
This is the one "catch" parents need to know about. When the silver in the liquid hits the decayed part of the tooth, it oxidizes—very much like how a silver spoon tarnishes over time.
Important Note: Only the cavity turns black. Healthy parts of the tooth stay white.
While the black spot is permanent, it’s actually a good sign—it’s visual proof that the medicine is working and the decay has stopped. If the color is a big concern, we can often perform a SMART filling, where we cover the black spot with a tooth-colored material once the decay is arrested.
It’s not usually a "one and done" deal. For the best results, we recommend applying it twice a year (usually during your six-month checkups).
SDF is a lifesaver for what we call the "I can't sit still" club. It’s a vital tool for:
In the U.S., dental decay (ECC) is a major public health issue. Statistics show that while roughly 23% of all kids aged 2–5 have had cavities, those numbers are often higher in specific communities—affecting about 33% of Hispanic children and 28% of Non-Hispanic Black children. SDF is a brilliant "bridge" treatment that keeps these teeth healthy until the child is old enough to cooperate for a permanent fix.
We can, but we’ll have a heart-to-heart about it first. On back molars, the black staining is rarely visible. On front teeth, your child will have a dark spot when they smile.
However, many parents choose the black spot over the alternative: an untreated cavity that eventually requires a silver crown or, worse, having the tooth pulled. A dark, healthy tooth is always better than a painful, infected one!