Silver diamine fluoride: indications and implementation

Silver diamine fluoride is a topical, minimally invasive treatment that is simple to apply. It is commonly used off label for caries arrest, predominantly in the primary dentition for which there is evidence for its effectiveness. Indications for its use include caries into dentine, no pulpal involvement and where patients have limited ability to cooperate. Successful implementation depends on appropriate case selection and effective communication with parents and carers over key areas including risks, benefits and drawbacks such as staining. The article discusses treatment planning and includes a step-by-step guide to its application. There are several tools along with guidance to support the implementation of silver diamine fluoride in clinical practice. CPD/Clinical Relevance: Silver diamine fluoride is an option for managing caries in the primary dentition for children who cannot manage other evidence based techniques.