Comparative Evaluation of Staining Potential and Caries Arresting Effect of Silver Diamine Fluoride⁄Potassium Iodide and Silver Diamine Fluoride in Carious Primary Anterior Teeth

Despite increased attention on caries prevention, not all children receive preventive treatments and large numbers still experience tooth decay. Primary care providers have had little option other than invasive and costly specialist treatment in the hospital under general anesthesia. In this context, there is interest in simple treatments to halt progress of carious lesions after tooth decay onset. Among these simple treatments is silver diamine fluoride (SDF) treatment. The major drawback to SDF treatment has been its black staining, which has limited its use. To counter the staining, researchers have tested SDF treatment immediately followed with application of saturated solution of potassium iodide (KI).