Treatment of Primary Molars With Deep Caries Using Silver Diamine Fluoride

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Untreated dental caries is a worldwide pandemic (Edelstein, 2006). Due to limited financial resources, poor access to basic oral care, and the high cost of restorative treatment, children of low-income nations have their general health, social well-being, and education opportunities affected by untreated dental caries (Baelum et al., 2007). Traditional treatment of cavitated dentin lesions advocates complete removal of the decayed structure, i.e. the infected and affected dentin layers. During this procedure, however, a significant quantity of the dental structure is removed, and the pulp tissue may be exposed. In light of this, the complete removal of all decayed structures from a tooth with cavitated lesions is no longer seen as mandatory, as this increases the chance of pulp exposure, post-operative pain and weakens the tooth structure, and there is growing evidence to support incomplete removal of decayed tissue prior to the restoration of the cavity. It is argued, however, that carious lesions remaining in the cavity must be completely sealed in order to prevent their progression (Yee et al., 2009). Arresting Caries Treatment (ACT) has been proposed to oversee untreated dental caries in children of disadvantaged communities. Treatment of carious lesions based on minimally invasive technique methods aim to prevent their progression and preserve pulp vitality by means of standards of anticipation, remineralization and minimal intervention in the dental tissue (Bedi and Sardo-Infirri, 1999).

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