Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF): Treating Teeth with Medication & Not the Drill
Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF) is a medication that can prevent cavities from growing larger. SDF stops cavities by killing the bacteria that causes cavities and hardening the soft tooth structure.
The procedure is simple and fast. The tooth with the cavity is isolated with cotton and dried with air. A small brush is used to apply SDF to the cavity for a few minutes and then the tooth is blotted dry. No shots and no drilling!
SDF has very few side effects and is safe for most people. The most prominent side effect is esthetic. Any area of the tooth that has a cavity will turn black permanently. Healthy tooth structure does not change color. This esthetic concern is the most common reason people may choose a traditional filling. Often, the stained area can be covered with a white filling material, but the treated area will still appear grey.
SDF is ideal for young children that would otherwise need to be treated with sedation and for cavities on the root surfaces of teeth that are difficult to treat with traditional fillings. Small cavities between the teeth or at the edges of crowns are also good candidates for treatment. SDF can be helpful for anyone with cavities that don’t pose an esthetic concern or for anyone who does not want a traditional filling.
Before being treated with SDF we will review the possible side effects of the medication, how we will apply the medication, and show you color pictures of what teeth will look like after treatment.
Silver Diamine Fluoride is a great minimally invasive treatment option.
Additional information regarding SDF is available from the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry at:
https://www.aapd.org/media/policies_guidelines/g_sdf.pdf
(Accessed on 03/18/2026)
