Silver Diamine Fluoride: Game Changer in Dental Public Health

Major part of the world population is affected with carious teeth, among which the number of children
affected are maximum. Carious lesions are more common in susceptible, uninsured and financially
weak populations. Caries which are not treated for very long period of time along with no utilisation of
available services in both developing and under developed countries pose an essential public health
question. Children have limited adaptive capacity which may also lead to difficulty in some treatment
procedures.
Hence, the need for an efficient and affordable approach for the dental caries treatment was required
in areas which have finite access to oral health care services like the school children. Nowadays,
Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF) is very much in demand as it can control caries progression and is very
less technique sensitive. This approach does not require caries excavation using instruments, in
addition silver has many antimicrobial properties and fluoride helps in remineralization.