efficient treatment to improve the overall dental care experience, and SDF can be a viable option. However, despite the evidence regarding the efficacy of SDF for dental caries, the translation into practice has yet to be routinely incorporated among dental providers.8 NEW ADDITION TO THE CARIES ARMAMENTARIUM Despite prevention recommendations, such as fluoride, limiting sugary foods, self-care, and obtaining preventive dental care twice a year, the global prevalence of children developing carious lesions is 46.2% for pri- mary dentition and 53.8% for permanent dentition.8 SDF — a mixture of ionic silver, fluoride, and ammonia — halts the advancement of caries and inhibits the expansion of potential decay.9 It is an appropriate treatment option for patients who may not be good can- didates for traditional dental treatments.6 SDF’s ability to arrest caries enables children to mature or improve their health prior to beginning comprehensive restorative therapy. In 2017, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry released evidence- based guidelines for SDF application as well as a chairside guide on case selection, clinical applications, and follow-up care (Figure 1, page 20).10 The guidelines recommend the application of 38% SDF once annually and application on high caries-risk patients with active carious lesions. The treatment is also suggested for individuals with special healthcare needs and/ or medical conditions that create a challenge for other treatments, patients with numerous carious lesions that cannot be treated in one appointment, individuals with barriers to care, and those who have caries without any pulpal involvement.6 BENEFITS AND DISADVANTAGES Evidence shows that SDF is equally effective as traditional restorative ther- apies. A meta-analysis by Ruff et al11 included studies in which SDF was SAMANTHA FARRAR, DHSc, MPH, BSDH, RDH, has more than 18 years of clinical experience with a special focus on pediatric dentistry and research. She is also a board examiner. An adjunct faculty member at College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, Farrar is passionate about education with a keen interest in fostering seamless integration between medical and dental practices. LORI RAINCHUSO, RDH, MS, DHSc, is a professor at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences University in Boston where she teaches in the Doctor of Health Sciences Program. With 20 years of experience in higher education, she enjoys advising students in graduate research and facilitating multidisciplinary courses. She has more than 25 publications in peer-reviewed journals and is a contributing author in the textbook, Wilkins’ Clinical Practice of the Dental Hygienist. dimensionsofdentalhygiene.com January/February 2024 • Dimensions OF DENTAL HYGIENE 19 Circle 4 on card Clinicians report Embrace Sealant’s margins are undetectable with an explorer year after year. Photo courtesy of Joseph P. O’Donnell, DMD. Six-year Follow Up pulpdent.com/embrace-info @pulpdentcorporation Embrace Pit & Fissure Sealant was designed to work with or without moisture. Research- backed, time-tested Embrace Sealant has been making dental hygienists’ lives easier for more than 20 years. Scan the QR code to request a demonstration. MOISTURE FRIENDLY. NO, REALLY. D.
