Liquid treatment could stop cavities in children without drilling, study shows

A simple liquid that can be painted onto cavities could help stop tooth decay in young children without the need for drilling, injections or surgery, according to a new study. Researchers found that silver diamine fluoride (SDF), an inexpensive liquid applied directly to a decayed tooth, stopped cavities from worsening in more than half of affected baby teeth when applied every six months. The treatment is quick and painless. A dentist simply brushes the liquid onto the cavity using a small sponge applicator, with the process taking only a few seconds per tooth. Unlike conventional cavity treatment, it does not require the damaged part of the tooth to be removed, injections or sedation. The findings are from a Phase III clinical trial led by the University of Michigan and published in JAMA Pediatrics. The study involved 830 children under the age of six.