Silver Diamine Fluoride
Also written as: SDF — Silver Diamine Fluoride
A topical antimicrobial liquid containing silver ions and fluoride, applied to carious lesions to arrest decay and desensitise dentine, resulting in black staining of treated carious tissue.
Full Definition
Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) is an aqueous solution combining silver nitrate (antimicrobial), ammonia (stabiliser), and sodium fluoride (remineralisation agent), typically formulated at 38% concentration. Silver ions disrupt bacterial cell function, while fluoride promotes mineralisation of demineralised dentine; together they arrest active caries lesions. The most clinically significant side effect is permanent black staining of carious tissue upon oxidation of the silver ions, which must be discussed with patients and documented. SDF does not restore form or function and is used as an interim or definitive non-restorative caries management strategy, particularly in paediatric, elderly, and medically compromised patients. Editors should be alert to inconsistent capitalisation and hyphenation in the literature.
Usage
Usage note: The abbreviation SDF should be expanded on first use; note that 'silver fluoride' is an incomplete and potentially misleading abbreviation of the compound.
In Context
- "Silver diamine fluoride was applied to arrest active carious lesions in the primary dentition of a non-cooperative child patient." — Paediatric dentistry treatment record
- "Patients must be informed of the characteristic black staining that follows SDF application before consent is obtained." — Dental patient information leaflet