Are there benefits to silver diamine fluoride use in seniors?

While silver diamine fluoride is widely recognized for managing early childhood caries, its efficacy and applications in older adults remain understudied.

A scoping review published in the Journal of Dentistry analyzed nine clinical studies on silver diamine fluoride’s effectiveness in improving oral health outcomes among adults aged 65 years or older, finding 38% silver diamine fluoride solutions were effective at preventing and arresting root caries and reducing plaque accumulation and dentine hypersensitivity.

“[Silver diamine fluoride] demonstrates potential for improving oral health in older adults, particularly in arresting and preventing caries, reducing plaque, and managing hypersensitivity. However, the evidence base remains limited, highlighting the need for rigorous clinical trials to establish long-term outcomes, safety profiles, and optimized protocols for this population,” the authors said in the review.

Read more: Journal of Dentistry

The article presented here is intended to inform you about the broader media perspective on dentistry, regardless of its alignment with the ADA's stance. It is important to note that publication of an article does not imply the ADA's endorsement, agreement, or promotion of its content.