Policy on the Use of Silver Diammine Fluoride for Pediatric Dental Patients

Policy statement

The AAPD:

• supports the use of SDF as part of an ongoing caries management plan with the aim of optimizing individualized patient care consistent with the goals of a dental home.
• recognizes the application of SDF as a minimallyinvasive approach that may prevent or delay the need for more extensive and expensive procedures.
• supports delegation of application of SDF to qualified allied dental personnel with training and supervision according to a state’s dental practice act by prescription or order of a dentist after a comprehensive oral examination and caries-risk assessment.
• supports the education of dental students, residents, other oral health professionals and their staffs to ensure understanding of the appropriate clinical use of SDF.
• encourages more practice-based research to be conducted on SDF to evaluate its efficacy and impact on oral health-related quality of life for infants, children, adolescents, and individuals with special health care needs.