Home Services Silver Diamine Fluoride
Silver diamine fluoride in Dallas
Silver diamine fluoride stops a cavity from growing without a drill, an injection or a filling. It is painless and takes about a minute. It also turns the decayed area permanently black, and that trade off is the whole conversation.
How it works and what it does not do
It is a liquid brushed onto the cavity. The silver kills the bacteria and hardens the softened tooth, and the fluoride helps rebuild the surface. Applied properly and reviewed, it arrests decay in a high proportion of cases.
It stops decay. It does not remove it, and it does not rebuild the missing tooth structure. The hole is still there, just no longer active.
The treated area goes black and stays black. On a back tooth nobody sees, that is usually an easy decision. On a front tooth it is a real cosmetic cost and worth thinking about.
When it is a good option
- A very young child who cannot yet sit through a filling
- A child with several cavities where the alternative is sedation for all of them at once
- A patient with a medical or sensory condition that makes conventional treatment difficult
- Back teeth where the staining will not be visible
- Buying time on a baby tooth that only has a year or two left anyway
- A patient who cannot afford full treatment right now and needs the decay stopped while they plan
What the appointment involves
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We show you the trade first
Before anything is applied we make sure you understand the staining is permanent on that spot and show you where it will show. Nobody should be surprised afterwards.
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The application
The tooth is dried, the liquid is brushed on and left briefly. No drill, no injection, about a minute per tooth.
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Review
We check it at the next visit to confirm the decay has arrested. It sometimes needs a second application.
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A plan for later
For a permanent tooth, the arrested cavity can be restored properly later. Silver diamine fluoride buys time and control, it is not always the end of the story.
Who you will see
Dr. Brian Hwangpo looks after silver diamine fluoride at our Bishop Arts practice. You see the same dentist at every visit, so nobody starts your treatment over.
What it costs, and how people pay
Price depends on what you actually need, so we look first and tell you the number before anything starts. What we can tell you now is how it gets paid for.
- Insured. In network with most major PPO plans, and your benefits get checked before treatment is planned.
- Medicaid or CHIP. Both accepted, which a lot of Dallas practices will not do.
- No insurance. Our membership plan covers cleanings, exams and routine x-rays from $30 a month, with 20% off other treatment.
- Larger treatment. Cherry, Sunbit and HFD payment plans spread the cost.
Silver Diamine Fluoride questions
- Does silver diamine fluoride hurt?
- No. There is no drilling and no injection. It is brushed onto the tooth and left for a moment. It has a slightly metallic taste, which is the only thing most children comment on.
- Why does silver diamine fluoride turn teeth black?
- The silver reacts with the decayed tooth structure and darkens it. Only the decayed part stains, not the healthy tooth, and the colour is permanent on that area.
- Is silver diamine fluoride a permanent fix?
- It permanently arrests the decay in most cases, but it does not restore the missing tooth structure. On a permanent tooth it is often a holding measure before a proper restoration.
- Is silver diamine fluoride safe for children?
- It has been used for decades and is approved for treating tooth sensitivity, with arresting decay as a widely accepted use. It is avoided in patients with a silver allergy. We go through your child's history first.
- How much does silver diamine fluoride cost?
- It is one of the least expensive treatments we offer, considerably cheaper than a filling and far cheaper than treatment under sedation. We give you the figure before we start.