The dentist's office just got a little sweeter. There's a new, painless alternative to having a cavity drilled and it's called silver diamine fluoride. The liquid can be brushed onto cavities to stop tooth decay, according to The New York Times.
Silver diamine fluoride — known by the brand name Advantage Arrest — has been available in the U.S. for about a year. The Food and Drug Administration approved the liquid for use as a tooth sanitizer. However, more and more dentists are using it off-label as studies show SDF can stop the progression of cavities and prevent new ones from forming.
Patients don't need an injection, dentists don't have to drill the cavity out and the procedure can be done in 30 seconds. The treatment proves highly useful for young children, as almost a quarter of 2- to 5-year-olds have cavities, according to the CDC. The treatment costs about $25.
While fillings cannot cure an oral infection, SDF can kill the bacteria that cause tooth decay. Applying a second coat of the liquid to the afflicted area six to 18 months after the first significantly halts cavities.
The largest downside of the liquid treatment lies with its aesthetic — it often blackens the brownish decay of a tooth. Patients with mouth sores or a silver allergy cannot use SDF and severe cavities will still require fillings. As most insurers don’t cover the treatment, patients must front the cost as well.
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