Scientists find a simple way to stop cavities without drilling - ScienceDaily

What the report says

ScienceDaily, citing materials from the University of Michigan, reported July 29 that a major U.S. clinical trial found silver diamine fluoride, or SDF, can halt many cavities in young children without drilling, injections or sedation. The liquid is brushed onto the decayed area with a small applicator, taking only seconds per tooth, though it permanently darkens the treated decay.

The Phase III study, published in JAMA Pediatrics and led by University of Michigan dentistry professor Margherita Fontana, enrolled 830 children under age 6. Participants were recruited through dental practices, pediatric medical offices, and Head Start and Early Head Start programs in Michigan, New York and Iowa. Researchers found that 38% SDF stopped decay in more than half of affected baby teeth when applied every six months.

SDF has been used in other countries for decades and in the United States off-label since 2014, when it was cleared as a device to reduce tooth sensitivity. The new trial is significant because researchers said U.S. safety and effectiveness data are needed for the Food and Drug Administration to consider approval of SDF as a drug treatment for dental caries. The NIH’s National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research provided more than $12 million for the work, and Elevate Oral Care supplied the tested product, Advantage Arrest 38% SDF.

The findings matter because untreated childhood cavities can cause pain, infection and missed school, and some children require hospital-based dental surgery under general anesthesia. Researchers said SDF could be especially useful for very young children, patients with disabilities or dental anxiety, and people with limited access to conventional dental care.