Everyone wants to have good dental health for themselves and their family, and that means using a variety of techniques both at home and within appointments to get effective results. While approaches like brushing, flossing, cavity filling, and X-rays are widely known, others, like silver diamine treatments, are much more familiar to dentists than they are to patients.
At Dr. Katie Orr, we’re experienced silver diamine dentists in Indianapolis, Indiana who can ensure you and your family members receive only the best care. Read on to discover everything you need to know about the process of getting silver diamine treatments and how our services can help you.
What Is Silver Diamine?
Silver diamine treatments combine silver and fluoride to elicit beneficial results in oral health. The silver works as an anti-microbial element that helps to keep the protective layer of your teeth strong and protected, while the fluoride helps stop tooth decay in its tracks and prevent further deterioration.
Fluoride has been utilized for decades to ensure teeth retain their strength and protect them from decay – you’ll see it as part of many toothpastes, and you may remember the “swish” fluoride solution you used in school – but silver diamine fluoride pushes everything a step further. Use of silver diamine fluoride can take the place of cavity filling and can prevent or delay more invasive measures.
Those particularly well-suited for treatment from our silver diamine dentists in Indianapolis include:
- Children with significant tooth decay under the age of 5 years
- Patients with special needs
- Elderly patients who do not like sitting still for longer periods of time
- Handicapped patients who have dexterity issues
How Do Your Indianapolis Silver Diamine Treatments Work?
Silver diamine treatments offer a drill-free approach to preventing tooth decay and promoting good dental health. The process is quite simple and involves:
- Drying the tooth set to undergo the procedure to ensure proper bonding with the material
- Applying the silver diamine fluoride to the affected area with a small brush and allowing it to dry
- Rinsing the tooth
That’s all there is to it! There are a few things to keep in mind about the procedure, however, so please take note of the following:
- Patients who are allergic to silver should not undergo the treatment
- Patients with mouth sores or raw areas within the mouth should also avoid the treatment at least temporarily, and should check with their dentist about the viability of future applications
- The process is not possible in cases where there is the presence of infection or decay in the nerve of the tooth
- Decayed areas of the tooth structure will stain black following the procedure, with healthy tooth portions unaffected – these stains can be covered with a filling or crown at a later date if desired
- Should any silver diamine fluoride touch the skin or gums during the procedure, a temporary white or brown stain may result that will disappear after a few weeks
- A slight metallic taste may be noticeable following silver diamine fluoride (SDF) treatment, but this will go away soon after
- Reapplication of silver diamine fluoride will most likely be needed, as well as later fillings, crowns, and other procedures to restore functionality or aesthetics
- It may take 2-3 applications for your silver diamine fluoride treatments to be effective, as the goal is to make the tooth hard and strong
Benefits of Silver Diamine Fluoride Treatments
Patients appreciate this treatment option for a number of reasons, with prominent ones including:
- Stopping tooth decay from spreading
- Stopping the breakdown in enamel resulting in lessened tooth sensitivity
- No drilling required, reducing anxiety and discomfort
- Painless and quick application process
- Affordability
Why Dr. Katie Orr Is Your Indianapolis Silver Fluoride Dentist of Choice
At Dr. Katie Orr, we were one of the first and few dental offices in Indiana to provide our patients with this revolutionary treatment option for tooth decay. Promoting emerging and effective new treatments is part of our commitment to offering our patients only the best in holistic dentistry in Indianapolis and the surrounding area.
We’re also dedicated family and children’s dentists, so we provide a caring, soothing environment for kids that puts them at ease, allowing us to keep them healthy and smiling bright. Best yet, kids’ first-visit exams are free!
Be sure to check out our services page to review all of the treatment options we have available, and consult with our team if you have questions about what silver diamine fluoride is and how the process works.
Contact Us
Ready to schedule an appointment? Reach out to us today and we’ll get you set up with one of our Indianapolis silver fluoride dentists!