Silver Diamine Fluoride Use in Children with Special Health-care Needs: Breaking the Barriers

Abstract

Dental caries is the most common unmet dental need of children with special health-care needs (SHCNs), and their treatment is challenging in routine dental settings. Based on surplus evidence, silver diamine fluoride (SDF) is a simple, safe, cost-effective, and efficient topical solution for treating dental caries. It is a clear, colorless, odorless fluoride-containing solution, does not require an extensive armamentarium for its application, and can be used in any setting. However, even with worldwide acceptance, there occurs limited research regarding SDF use in children with special needs. This review aims to update the possibilities and acceptability of SDF usage in patients with special needs with dental caries as a promising option for managing dental caries and improving their quality of life.

Keywords

• caries control
• children
• dental caries
• early childhood caries
• silver diamine fluoride
• special health-care needs