Rampant caries management using Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF): A case report

The present study aims to demonstrate the efficacy of silver diamine fluoride (SDF) for the management of dental caries and to identify its potential drawbacks in a dental clinic setting. A 14-year-old female accompanied by her mother came to the clinic with a complaint of mild pain when drinking water and wanted to restore her carious teeth. Medical history was insignificant. History taking revealed poor oral hygiene with a highly cariogenic diet. Radiographic examination showed multiple caries lesions with severe decay of anterior teeth. Clinical examination revealed rampant caries of all upper and lower anterior and posterior teeth. The proposed treatment was to prevent further decay of teeth by applying silver diamine fluoride on the decayed teeth and restoring them with glass ionomer due to financial and time limitations. Glass ionomer restorations were placed during multiple visits over few weeks. The patient's discomfort and anxiety diminished substantially and she experienced no new primary or secondary caries lesions. Tooth discoloration was minimized by selective removal of superficial SDF-hardened tooth structure, followed by glass ionomer restoration. To conclude, silver diamine fluoride can be a safe and effective treatment option to address rampant caries in the young population if it is applied safely and its potential side effects addressed accordingly.