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FIELDS WITH AN ASTERISK ARE MANDATORYSilver Diamine Fluoride in Great Neck, NY
If your child has cavities, the thought of undergoing the drilling and filling treatment process may leave you feeling apprehensive. For many parents, restorative dental work is best avoided. Fortunately, there’s now an alternative that works to stop tooth decay in its tracks. Silver diamine fluoride is a non-invasive intervention against childhood dental caries. It’s effective in stopping ongoing cavities and preventing the formation of new ones.
Great Neck Dental Associates takes pride in being one of the pioneer dental offices offering silver diamine fluoride for kids in Great Neck, NY.
What is Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF)?
Silver diamine fluoride, abbreviated SDF, is a combination of silver, water, ammonia, and fluoride that’s topically applied to teeth to stop dental caries from growing, forming, or spreading to adjacent teeth. SDF has been widely used in Japan and other countries for decades. However, it wasn’t until 2014 that the U.S Food and Drug Administration approved it for use in the United States.
SDF’s components make it incredibly potent against cavities. Silver kills bacteria while fluoride enhances remineralization, which strengthens tooth enamel. Finally, ammonia keeps the solution concentrated for maximum effectiveness.
Is SDF Right for Your Child?
Our Board Certified Pediatric Dentist takes time to evaluate your child’s needs before deciding if SDF is suitable for their case.
Childhood cavities are a detriment to your child’s oral and overall well-being. If your child has cavities, our Board Certified Pediatric Dentist in Great Neck, NY, may opt to treat them using SDF instead of drilling and filling. This is especially true for baby teeth that will eventually fall off.
SDF is ideal for:
- Babies and toddlers who have cavities – This age group may not be cooperative during treatment and have more significant risks associated with sedation. In this case, SDF may be preferred.
- Extensive tooth decay – If your child has multiple cavities, it may be impractical to have all of them treated. SDF comes in handy as it allows treatment of up to eight teeth at a go.
- Children with special needs – If your child has special needs, they may be unable to cooperate during dental treatment. SDF takes care of this problem as it significantly shortens the treatment time and lessens the discomfort too.
- Older kids – Baby teeth don’t fall out at once. As such, you may find a 12-year-old who has a decayed baby tooth. In this case, it may be best to treat the tooth with SDF and then wait for it to fall out instead of undertaking extensive dental work.
Remember, SDF works to prevent cavities too. As such, you can bring in your child for SDF treatment as a preventive measure against cavities. When combined with fluoride treatment, SDF can almost guarantee a lifetime of cavity-free smiles for your child.
As trusted providers of children’s dentistry in Great Neck, NY, we’re continuously looking for ways to improve our patients’ experiences. If you’re looking to learn more about silver diamine fluoride for kids near you, get in touch with our kids’ dentist by calling Great Neck Dental Associates today.