Disease relevance of fluorosilver

• The Health Department in Western Australia uses a 40 per cent silver fluoride (AgF) solution for prevention and treatment of dental caries in children [1].
• An in vitro model to measure the effect of a silver fluoride and potassium iodide treatment on the permeability of demineralized dentine to Streptococcus mutans [2].

High impact information on fluorosilver

• BACKGROUND: This study investigated the extent to which a coating of 10% silver fluoride (AgF) on discs of glass jonomer cements (GIGs) would enhance the release of fluoride ion into eluting solutions at varying pH [3].
• The purpose of this study was to determine if a prior application of silver fluoride and potassium iodine to demineralized dentine affected the uptake of strontium and fluoride from a glass ionomer cement restoration [4].
• Pulp response in primary teeth with deep residual caries treated with silver fluoride and glass ionomer cement ('atraumatic' technique) [5].
• The question of whether or not treatment of carious dentine with silver fluoride represents a biologically acceptable clinical procedure cannot be answered on the basis of pulpal histology alone [5].
• Histological assessment of the dental pulps of 55 carious primary teeth was carried out 3 to 58 months after treatment by the 'atraumatic' technique involving application of 40 per cent silver fluoride to residual caries followed by restoration with glass ionomer cement [5].

Associations of fluorosilver with other chemical compounds

• Fluoride ion concentration in 40 per cent silver fluoride solutions determined by ion selective electrode and ion chromatography techniques [6].
• Ion uptake into demineralized dentine from glass ionomer cement following pretreatment with silver fluoride and potassium iodide [4].

Analytical, diagnostic and therapeutic context of fluorosilver

• For this reason, the results are inconclusive as to whether or not application of 40 per cent silver fluoride as a cavity varnish of liner and its use in the 'atraumatic' technique for treating deep caries, can be considered safe clinical procedures [7].
• As scientifically-based clinical trials on the safety of 40% silver fluoride have not been conducted, it would be appropriate for it to be withdrawn from further clinical use until proper testing and evaluation have been carried out [8].

References