SDF Treatment Superior in Arresting Early Approximal Caries: Study
Researchers have found in a new randomized, triple-blinded clinical trial that silver diamine fluoride (SDF) was more effective in halting initial approximal caries lesions in adults during the first six months of treatment. This offers significant disease-control benefits for high-risk patients presenting with multiple early lesions, providing a minimally invasive option for managing dental decay.
The study, published in Journal of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics (Jaradat et al., 2025), involved adults with early interproximal lesions who were randomly assigned to receive either SDF or a placebo. Lesions were evaluated at six- and twelve-month intervals using bitewing radiographs, digital subtraction radiography (DSR), and histogram analysis of subtraction radiographs (HA). Results showed that while over 90% of lesions in both groups were arrested over 12 months, the SDF-treated lesions performed significantly better during the first six months when assessed using DSR. By the 12-month mark, differences between the groups were no longer statistically significant, but the early benefit highlights SDF’s effectiveness in rapid intervention for lesion control.
What this really means is that SDF can serve as a simple, low-cost, and minimally invasive strategy for arresting early interproximal decay, particularly in adults at high risk for multiple lesions. By stopping the progression of early caries, dental practitioners can reduce the need for more invasive restorations and improve long-term oral health outcomes. The authors also note that while the short-term benefits are clear, further studies are needed to confirm sustained efficacy beyond a year and to explore optimized application protocols. For patients, this study reinforces the importance of early detection and treatment of interproximal lesions, which are often difficult to manage and frequently go unnoticed until more advanced decay develops. Clinicians may consider incorporating SDF into preventive care plans for high-risk adults to enhance early caries control and minimize future restorative needs.
Reference: Jaradat, M., Kolker, J., Owais, A., Guzman-Armstrong, S., Haes, A., Anamali, S., Comnick, C., Zeng, E., & Kanellis, M. (2025). Silver diamine fluoride effectiveness in arresting initial approximal caries lesions in adults: A triple-blinded, randomized controlled clinical trial. Journal of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, 28(9), 892–898. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12440336/
Keywords: silver diamine fluoride, approximal caries, minimal intervention, subtraction radiography, dental disease control, Jaradat, Journal of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics.
