Protocol for caries arrest using silver diamine fluoride: rationale, indications, and consent

Abstract

Introduction: Caries is considered the most prevalent health condition in the world. For a long time,fluor has been used to prevent and treat caries. But silver diamine fluoride (SDF) is a new product that have been introduced in Japan in the 1960s. It shows great results in terms of caries arrest. Objectives: The principal objective of this review is to analyze the use of SDF to stop caries progression in the general population. As secondary objectives,we will evaluate the benefits and limitations of SDF over traditional treatments and review the protocols. Methodology: The search strategy was carried out between October 2022 and January 2023. We analyzed different articles from the last 10 years,according to our search equation,in the PubMed and Medline databases. Results: We submitted all the articles found to the PRISMA checklist and obtained 30 articles that,after systematically presenting them in the results table,have been analyzed to respond to the objectives set previously. Conclusions: SDF has been proven to arrest caries by promoting remineralization and inhibiting demineralization. It presents a lot of benefices compatible with children by its non-invasiveness,ease,and fastness of use. It also showed great compatibility for treating the elderly as it can treat hypersensibility and root caries. SDF showed less demineralization than caries treated with traditional sodium fluoride. The principal benefices of SDF were that it is rapid,safe,affordable,painless,and very effective. Its limitations were mostly the aesthetic effect caused by staining that might not be accepted by patients. It is,therefore,important to provide informed consent to patients. Also,dentists should know common protocols to use the product