Topically applying 38% silver diamine fluoride (SDF) may better prevent erosion in enamel and dentin than stannous chloride-containing fluoride (SNF). The in vitro study was published on April 24 in the Journal of Dentistry.
It is believed to be the first study to explore the preventive effect of 38% SDF solution on dental erosion in human permanent teeth, the authors wrote.
"SDF provided better protection against dental erosion for human permanent teeth compared to stannous chloride-containing fluoride," wrote the authors, led by Darren Dhananthat Chawhuaveang of the University of Hong Kong.
In the study, 90 enamel and 90 dentin blocks from permanent molars were divided. Each group either received a single application of 38% SDF solution, a single application of NSF solution, or a single application of deionized water (DW).
The blocks underwent acid challenges multiple times per day for a week, with saliva immersion between cycles. Multiple analyses were conducted to examine crystal characteristics, surface microhardness loss, surface morphology, and elemental composition, they wrote.
Blocks that received an application of SDF showed the lowest surface damage in both enamel and dentin compared to SNF and DW. Additionally, images showed that 38% SDF caused less enamel damage and sealed more dentinal tubules than the other groups, according to the results.
However, the study's short duration of seven days was a limitation since dental erosion progresses slowly over time. Further research is necessary to explore how the duration of SDF application affects its preventive effectiveness, they wrote.
"A one-time application of 38% SDF yielded superior results in protecting enamel and dentin blocks from dental erosion during a 7-day erosive challenge compared to SNF and DW," Chawhuaveang and colleagues concluded.
