Dr. Ben Amini, Dentist in San Francisco, Comments on the New Guidelines for Use of Silver Diamine Fluoride in Preventing the Spread of Cavities

    SAN FRANCISCO, CA, March 27, 2018 /24-7PressRelease/ -- San Francisco dentist, Dr. Ben Amini, comments on the new guidelines for the use of silver diamine fluoride. Although it has been widely used in Japan for more than 80 years, it was only cleared by the FDA in 2014. The fluoride helps the teeth re-mineralize while the silver combats the oral bacteria. Once it is applied to the teeth, the teeth become more resistant to acid erosion from the bacteria. The caries lesion (cavity) hardens, decreases in depth and increases in mineral density. The SDF destroys the oral bacteria responsible for caries by preventing their DNA from replicating, destroying their protecting membranes and deactivating them.

A 2016 review and analysis of a variety of controlled trials has revealed that 38 percent SDF could arrest caries lesions in primary teeth. SDF offers unparalleled ease, and multiple studies and trials underscore its effectiveness.

Silver diamine fluoride, a specific type of fluoride, is used to treat enamel hypersensitivity in adults, but the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry has recently issued new guidelines allowing its use in children and those with special needs as well. When combined with other preventive strategies such as routine cleanings, hygiene counseling, dental sealants and professional fluoride varnishes, SDF can protect dental health and preserve teeth.

"With the use of SDF (Silver diamine Fluoride) we can enhance the management of dental caries in children and adolescents, including those with special needs", says Dr. Ben Amini, an assistant clinical professor at the University of California in San Francisco, UCSF School of Dentistry. "By stopping and preventing caries, SDF offers an alternate care option for special needs patients whom traditional restorative options are not immediately available. We can stop the disease from progressing and buy time for those patients. That's the power of SDF", says Dr. Amini.

The UCSF Protocol using SDF is published in various scientific journals including the Journal of California Dental Association.

About Dr. Amini

Dr. Amini is a San Francisco dentist and the founder of CitiDent, a multi-disciplinary dental practice in San Francisco. He is a member of the American Dental Association, the California Dental Association, the Academy of General Dentistry, the Academy of Osseointegration and the International Congress of Oral Implantology. He is also a member of the San Francisco Community Dental Health Committee, a chapter of the San Francisco Dental Society.

Sources:
https://www.ada.org/en/science-research/science-in-the-news/new-guideline-addresses-the-use-of-silver-diamine-fluoride-in-pediatric-and-special-needs-patients
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4778976/

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