AADR 2018: Potassium iodide may reduce SDF discoloration

Potassium iodide (KI) may lessen the black staining associated with silver diamine fluoride (SDF) on restored teeth, according to research presented on March 22 at the 2018 American Association of Dental Research (AADR) meeting in Fort Lauderdale, FL.

"Silver diamine fluoride offers an alternative caries treatment paradigm that is quick and low-cost for low-income children and the elderly, such as those under nursing care," study co-author Carolyn Primus, PhD, told DrBicuspid.com. "Treatments of teeth with SDF with KI significantly reduced discoloration."

Primus and colleagues studied the color effects of 38% silver diamine fluoride and 15% potassium iodide using 40 extracted molars with either sound dentition or composite restorations. They reserved 10 of the molars as controls, while treating the remaining molars with either SDF and potassium idodide or SDF alone.

Restored teeth that were treated with SDF alone significantly darkened, but those treated with both potassium iodide and SDF showed minimal color changes.

Primus was surprised by the stark difference between the two groups.

"Potassium iodide was more effective than I anticipated when used with restorative treatments," Primus said.

Potassium iodide prevented discoloration for restored teeth treated with SDF. Image courtesy of Carolyn Primus, PhD.

The researchers plan to continue investigating the effects of potassium iodide and SDF, and some are currently testing whether potassium iodide affects bond strength. In the meantime, Primus suggested that dentists may want to consider adding potassium iodide to SDF for restored teeth.

"To mitigate discoloration, dentists may use a solution of potassium iodide that can be purchased at a pharmacy," she said.