SDF: Enhanced preventive, operative care: Call based on caries risk

Abstract

Dental caries remains severe oral health problem, despite being the most preventable disease. The fact regarding this disease is that even though several efforts are made towards its total eradication, it is still prevalent. It was easier to work on the resultant effect of the disease rather than imagining the unseen pathological mechanism, which led to the resultant obvious effect. However, conventional management of carious lesion requires patient's cooperation, which is the most important consideration in pediatric dentistry, the lack of which leads to progression of disease and subsequent tooth loss. The possibility of detecting non-cavitated stage carious lesions and also the possibility to remineralize/arrest these lesions have noticeably reduced the clinical situations that necessitate restorations. Preventive interventions can be used as an alternative to traditional restorative procedures and one of them is Fluorides, which resulted in significant decrease in prevalence of dental caries. The perfect alternative treatment for dental caries for many circumstances is the application of Silver Diamine Fluoride. The use of SDF provided appropriate care for low income, socially vulnerable children and also in some unique clinical circumstances that may not permit traditional cavity preparation. This article highlights the change in perception of Pediatric dentists towards caries management, preventive care and the role of 'Magic bullet' SDF in arresting carious lesions thereby improving the quality of life of children.