Do you use dental sealants and silver diamine fluoride (SDF) in your practice? Research supports the use of sealants to prevent and even stop caries, and SDF is formulated to be comparable to sealants for stopping cavities.
And dental sealants aren’t just for kids. It has also been shown to be a cost-effective treatment for tooth decay prevention in older adults.
A dentist says, “Dental sealants are one of the most universally used protective materials, as well as the most misused products today.” While sealants may be one of the dental procedures most likely to fail prematurely, it doesn’t have to be that way.
In this collection of articles, you’ll learn from the best experts—your fellow dentists—about their best practices for dental sealants and silver diamine fluoride, and how to get these procedures covered by dental insurance. Sealants are non-invasive, easy to install, cost-effective and a critical factor in fighting tooth decay. Now, with SDF, healthcare professionals are moving forward with greater access to care.
Dental sealants: Don’t underestimate their power
Dr. Adrien Theriot says, “Think of sealants like Captain America protects against tooth decay.” They are non-invasive, easy to place, cost-effective and are a critical factor in the fight against caries.
A protocol for the placement of sealing holes and cracks
Use of dental sealants to prevent or stop occlusal caries in permanent dentition
Dr. Erinne Kennedy believes we can fail our adult patients if we don’t diagnose, plan treatment, and compensate for sealants throughout their lives.
“Tooth Sealants: I Love to Hate Them”
A patient in her 20s had dental sealants on all her molars, never had a cavity in her life, and her mom is a hygienist. Dr. Stacey Gividen had to give her the bad news, but an intraoral camera made it easier.
Things happen
Dental sealants have a shelf life
Staci Violante, RDH: “Too often when a sealant fails, decay has already reached the pulp resulting in extensive, costly remedial work. In retrospect, a patient who had a healthy, virgin tooth now has a diseased tooth.” When talking about sealants with your patients, don’t forget to include the importance of oral health in the conversation.
Weighing the pros and cons of sealants with your patients
Making dental sealants last longer
Are your dental sealants failing prematurely? Dr. Gordon Christensen says it doesn’t have to be that way. He shares his tips and best practices.
Silver diamine fluoride: It’s not just for kids anymore
Lori Gordon Hendrick, MS, RDH and Dr. Joseph Hendrick Jr. talk about how they use SDF in their practice to arrest and prevent tooth decay in their elderly patients: “In our practice, SDF is one of the most recommended dental medications for older adult patients who do not want or cannot tolerate long-term and expensive dental procedures’.
Taking on the challenge of oral care for the elderly
SDF is as effective as sealants in preventing and inhibiting cavitation
A multi-year study of nearly 3,000 New York City students found that a dose of silver diamine fluoride, or dental sealant, given in elementary schools prevented about 80 percent of cavities and kept 50 percent of cavities from getting worse when the children were seen two years later.
A look at the study
The CPT code encourages the use of SDF for caries treatment
A CPT code has been approved for the application of silver diamine fluoride by healthcare professionals for the treatment of cavities without a dental filling—a milestone in odonto-dental integration and a step forward in access to care.
Insurance compensation for SDF
