Silvering of baby teeth - the effectiveness of the technique for children

Good day, dear readers. If you have young children, then most likely you have heard about different dental procedures for them. Many parents who complain about the poor condition of their children’s teeth can be offered options for solving this problem. Among them is such a popular technique as silvering teeth.

Silvering of baby teeth

As is known, the chemical element silver (Ag) has antibacterial properties, and the main cause of tooth decay, caries, is caused precisely by their activity. Of course, there are other reasons, including demineralization, which we will also look at as we study this topic.

Silvering and fluoridation of baby teeth

Why are teeth silvered in childhood?

Very often in order for frightened mothers to calm down at least for a while. The fear that a child's teeth will deteriorate/fall out prematurely haunts many young parents. After all, this is quite real and they see examples of similar situations among the children of their neighbors, acquaintances, and relatives.

Silvering of teeth in children

If we talk about a medical point of view, it is believed that silvering baby teeth helps in the prevention of caries and even stops its development in the initial stages. As practice shows, this technique often turns out to be quite effective.

What is silvering of teeth

Did you notice that I wrote “often”? The fact is that there are no two identical children who would be affected 100% equally by any method/drug used in medical practice. Pardon the tautology, but I can’t describe this simple fact any other way.

When silvering occurs, tooth enamel becomes noticeably darker. Therefore, this method is used for baby teeth, which will eventually fall out anyway.

Silvering teeth for children

For permanent teeth, this method of prevention is pointless. After all, the surface of the treated tooth does not look aesthetically pleasing at all.

Having discovered obvious signs of caries in their baby, parents run to the children's dental clinic or to private doctors with a request to stop the destructive process. It is very important that the child does not lose his baby teeth. This is where the pediatric dentist needs to decide whether to fill the tooth or silver plate it. For the front incisors, a filling is not the best option. She is holding up extremely poorly. The professionalism of the dentist plays a very important role. He should not choose a technique according to the principle “the more expensive, the better.”

Children's teeth after silvering procedure

Content:

1. Indications
2. Optimal age for treatment
3. How Reconstituted Silver Works
4. How children's teeth are silvered
5. Advantages of the technique
6. Disadvantages of the technique

Doctors silver baby teeth to prevent tooth decay and prevent existing cavities from spreading further.
The technique is usually used when working with two- and three-year-old patients. It is recommended for older children if they have a very strong fear of the dentist. How effective the silvering procedure will be largely depends on the stage of the dental disease. The best results can be achieved by treating white spots on enamel with silver, as well as with superficial (shallow) carious cavities.

It is acceptable to treat teeth immediately after they erupt, for example, when the baby is six months old. The coating session is absolutely painless and therefore does not require the administration of an anesthetic.

Attention! If the baby is not prone to caries and his teeth are in satisfactory condition, silvering is simply not worth it. After it, the enamel acquires an unsightly dark gray or black color, which can cause psychological complexes in the child when he begins to pay attention to his appearance. Only if there are medical indications should you call for help with a silver solution.

Causes

Why does the problem itself arise? It varies from person to person, but most often it’s due to diet and poor oral hygiene. For example, you give sweet juices and lemonades, especially at night. The result is obvious - caries. Does your child eat sweets and cakes? Sugars and carbohydrates are excellent “food” for bacteria that destroy his teeth.

What you can and cannot feed your baby at night

If the diet lacks calcium, vitamin D and other substances valuable for teeth, this can also cause destruction of enamel and other tissues.

• Silvering of baby teeth

Caries of baby teeth

Sometimes babies can have congenital enamel defects. In these cases, silvering is used to prevent future problems. But don’t be lazy to ask what else you need to do to protect fragile teeth.

Causes of caries in baby teeth

Indications

You cannot silver permanent teeth - only baby teeth. The method is justified in the following forms of caries found on the front teeth:

• surface;
• medium (assuming the cavity is shallow and the patient will carefully care for the treated units);
• planar (I mean a defect in which the entire crown or several adjacent teeth are affected);
• circular (dental neck is affected).

It is also recommended to carry out the procedure if the child’s enamel is insufficiently mineralized.

It is not advisable to use silver when working with molars. If they already have holes, only filling will help. This is due to the fact that food particles will constantly accumulate in the chewing teeth, which means that the destructive process will continue.

How is the teeth silvering procedure performed?

The doctor uses silver nitrate AgNO₃. Of course, not in its pure form, but in the form of a 30% solution. There are also more modern preparations that combine fluoride and silver. They have a pronounced effect in the fight against carious bacteria.

Silvering process

How it works? The drug forms a film of solid insoluble salts on tooth enamel, which not only defeat bacteria, but also prevent the destruction of the enamel even if there are spots on it (demineralization or the initial stage of caries).

The drug is applied for a few minutes, so it does not cause any discomfort. Complete painlessness is guaranteed during the use of the active ingredients.

Silvering of baby teeth

Video - Treatment of caries of temporary teeth using silver impregnation method

Disadvantages of the technique

The main disadvantages of this therapy:

• Deterioration in the appearance of a smile. She turns black. If a child at two years old does not care about how his teeth look, then at 4-5 he will definitely ask his parents to rid him of this terrible dark plaque. It will be impossible to do this. The effect will last until the replacement of the primary milk unit.
• Short duration of positive results. The film, consisting of silver nitrate, gradually loses its protective properties. Then you need to re-process it.
• Low effectiveness for medium and large carious cavities. Silvering is optimal only for shallow caries. But at this stage of the disease, you can use alternative methods that do not turn the teeth black.

How often do you need to silver your teeth?

According to pediatric dentists, the most effective effects of drugs containing silver are as follows:

• repeat silvering of teeth 3 or 5 times;
• this can be done in a row or every other day;
• It is optimal to do this every 4 months. If this is not possible - twice a year.

Silvering teeth in children has a positive effect in terms of protecting not only hard tissues (enamel), but also soft tissues (dentin). The frequency of repetition of procedures is individual for children of different ages. It also depends on how well oral hygiene is implemented and whether the child is fed naturally.

Boy with silvered teeth, teeth after silvering

Indications and contraindications

Silver treatment of baby teeth is indicated for children in several cases:

• thinning of tooth enamel and the presence of small defects - chips, microcracks;
• in the presence of carious formations in the white spot stage;
• to prevent the development of infection and proliferation of pathogens;
• to extend the service life of the filling;
• with increased sensitivity of the gums to temperature changes.

Silvering of teeth is performed on children to prevent recurrence of caries, however, if the damage has spread not only to tooth enamel, but also to dentin, then the procedure is strictly contraindicated.

Important! Dentin is a layer of tissue located under the tooth enamel. In children, dentin has a soft and loose structure, so caries spreads very quickly in it. If the lesion has progressed to the stage of medium caries, then treatment with silver should be carried out monthly, however, there is no absolute guarantee that the superficial destruction of dental tissues will not develop into pulpitis.

It is also unacceptable to silver tooth enamel if:

• components of preparations for coating enamel cause an allergic reaction in the baby;
• the young patient suffers from severe somatic pathologies;
• the baby has developed deep caries;
• patient over 3 years old.

Important! Doctors never recommend silvering the teeth of children who eat foods high in fluoride.

Silvering of teeth - expert opinions on the technique

There are many different opinions among dentists. They constantly argue, arguing for and against silvering teeth, citing research.

Fact one - silver nitrate, if it penetrates deep into the tooth tissue, can damage the pulp.

One-component argenate - material for use in the initial forms of development of carious processes (liquid 5 ml)

What do doctors suggest? Nowadays, there are a lot of combination drugs that are effective, but safer.

Fact two - combination drugs contain fluorides, which, according to some scientists, can be harmful.

Benefits of silvering teeth

Dentists have differing opinions. Some say that the dose of this halogen is insignificant and cannot harm a person. Others argue that even microdoses that exceed the body's actual needs are a health threat.

• Silvering of teeth in children

1. If caries has affected the chewing teeth, the procedure is unlikely to be beneficial.
2. With advanced caries, there is also no guarantee that silver nitrate will be able to stop the process.
3. Do not forget that the surface of the enamel will be covered with a brown or even black film.

Silvering of baby teeth “Pros” and “Cons”:

Therefore, before going to the doctor, think about whether it is worth silvering your teeth or using another technique. As long as there is a small white spot on the tooth, it is not at all necessary to resort to radical measures. It may make sense to start the demineralization procedure. There are special products applied to the enamel for this purpose. You also need to make sure that the child brushes his teeth and eats properly.

Silvering of teeth in children

In the USA and most European countries, this technique is no longer used, being considered outdated. In the CIS, there are still few worthy alternatives that would be sufficiently effective and would not have side effects.

Do not forget that before applying silver preparations, soft and hard deposits must be completely removed from the teeth. When a three-year-old child sits in a dental chair, this is very problematic. He will spin around, avoiding what he considers “scary” medical instruments.

You cannot apply Saforite, Argenate or other products to unbrushed teeth. These two drugs are silver fluoride diamine - combination drugs that are considered the most modern and safe.

"Argenat"

It's important to know that. Unlike fluoridation, silvering teeth yourself at home is contraindicated. Considering that this procedure is not the most expensive, there is no point in violating the instructions of experts and self-medicating.

Protection of baby teeth in modern dentistry

In addition to silvering and fluoridation of baby teeth, modern science offers:

• traditional dentistry treatment with boron, using modern drills, painless and effective if the right approach is found by the doctor to the baby;
• the use of remineralization - the use of toothpastes containing minerals necessary to strengthen teeth - calcium, fluorine, phosphorus, of which there are many types on the market now;
• ozonation – treatment of milk tooth tissues, including root canals, with ozone. It is similar to silvering, stops the development of microbes and caries;
• sealing the fissures of the tooth - the recesses in the tooth are filled with a special sealant, which allows you to seal them, protect them from further destruction, and deliver to the tooth tissues the mineral ions necessary to strengthen it. This is a treatment method and a preventive measure at the same time.
• Prosthetics after the removal of a baby tooth are used to form a correct bite.

Remineralization of baby teeth involves coating the tooth enamel with special compounds. One of the methods that dentists use to protect teeth is coating with artificial enamel, which creates a certain barrier protection for the teeth.

Each of the above methods is effective in its own way. The choice is up to the baby’s parents based on the advice of the attending physician, depending on the condition of the baby teeth and the health of the child.

Other dental protection options

Most often, if there are no holes or significant damage on the tooth, experts may recommend fluoridation - regular or deep. Special pastes and other means are also selected to help stop the process of enamel destruction.

Fluoridation of teeth

The use of sodium fluoride is a popular alternative to silver plating, but this method is not a panacea. In addition, if your region has fluoridated water or there is a company whose activities are somehow related to fluoride emissions, the use of such techniques may even be dangerous. After all, poisoning with fluoride compounds causes fluorosis and other diseases.

In addition, fluoridation can only be done after 2 years, when the enamel is formed and strong enough. Otherwise, fluoride will cause a reverse reaction - softening of tooth tissue, which will accelerate their destruction.

Fluoridation of teeth in children

When choosing a technique, much depends on the professionalism of the doctor. His task is to determine which method will be relevant for each specific patient.

• Silvering of teeth in children

Video - Other options for protecting teeth

What are the alternatives to teeth silvering?

The choice of alternatives is not great. This is either remineralization or deep fluoridation.

1) Treatment of caries with the drug “ICON” –

This technique is effective only in the presence of caries at the white spot stage, i.e. when on the surface of the enamel there are only foci of demineralization (without the formation of actual carious defects). The drug "ICON" is a composite material that is designed to seal pores in tooth enamel. After treating teeth with this drug, the white spots disappear, and as a result of treatment, the diseased tooth is almost impossible to distinguish externally from healthy ones.

Thus, we have the following advantages - 1) the procedure does not require anesthesia, 2) there is no terrible dark color of the teeth as after silvering, 3) the procedure is guaranteed to stop the development of caries. However, it should be noted that this method can only be used in children, usually only from 3 years of age (due to the fact that the child will have to sit in a chair for about 15-20 minutes). In addition, this method has a higher cost compared to teeth silvering.

2) Remineralizing therapy –

The remineralization technique allows us to saturate weakened areas of enamel with minerals (primarily calcium and phosphates). This method is used in the treatment of caries in the white spot stage, as well as superficial caries. But this method will be effective only if oral hygiene is normalized, as well as the consumption of easily digestible carbohydrates between main meals, including sweet and sour juices, and sweet soda.

There are not many drugs for enamel remineralization. One of the most effective preparations is the GC Tooth Mousse gel; you can also use Russian gel (based on calcium glycerophosphate and xylitol). Both drugs are convenient to use at home, and are available when ordering online. Gel “GC Tooth Mousse” is more effective, and it is most often used by dentists for professional remineralization.

Example of drugs for remineralization of teeth -

During the course of remineralization, it is very important to use toothpastes without fluoride for oral hygiene. However, after completing the course of treatment, on the contrary, it is very important to start using toothpaste with fluorides (either sodium fluoride or amino fluoride), because in this case, fluoride will allow calcium to be fixed in the tooth enamel. Using the link below, you can choose such a paste for your child, taking into account safe dosages of fluoride at different ages. For example, safe dosages of fluoride for children 1-3 years old range from 250 to 500 ppm (provided the concentration of fluoride in drinking water is not exceeded).

→ How to choose children's toothpaste with fluoride

3) Deep fluoridation of teeth –

The purpose of deep fluoridation is to saturate weakened areas of enamel with fluoride in order to reduce the leaching of calcium from tooth enamel, as well as to increase the hardness of tooth enamel. It is noted that deep fluoridation is effective not only for white chalky spots, but also for superficial caries. The effectiveness of fluoridation largely depends on the dosage of fluoride in the drug, and therefore professional fluoridation by a dentist will be more effective.

Indications for the use of deep fluoridation – 1) initial caries in the stage of a white chalky spot, 2) superficial caries, i.e. within the limits of the thickness of the enamel, 3) prevention of the appearance of new foci of caries. Fluoridation should definitely be carried out only at a dentist’s appointment, because the concentrations of professional fluoridation products are very high (up to 20,000 ppm), and the use of such drugs can only be carried out by a dentist. So what drugs are there for fluoridation...

One of the best drugs is “Enamel-sealing liquid Tiefenfluorid” (Germany). This drug is two-component: first, a suspension with active calcium is applied to the teeth, and only after a few minutes a fluoride solution is applied. Thus, this drug combines both remineralization and deep fluoridation. There is also a large selection of special dental varnishes containing fluorides (fluoride varnishes), which are applied to the enamel of teeth in the dentist's office. You can find an example of effective varnishes for fluoridating teeth in the article at the link below.

→ Preparations for fluoridation of teeth

Silvering of teeth - what do parents write?

Having studied numerous reviews about teeth silvering written by mothers of babies, I came to the conclusion that doctors often prescribe this procedure simply for the sake of money. That is, they do this, fully aware of the fact that this will not help the child.

Child at the dentist

Not everyone wants their child to walk around with black teeth. Adults don’t care, but other kids will tease you. They don’t understand what this treatment is. Therefore, many mothers and fathers do not take risks, realizing that their teeth will not completely change tomorrow or even in a month. If a child goes to kindergarten and is the only one there with such teeth, expect to come home in tears.

The second point is the hereditary factor. It, like various situations during pregnancy, can affect the destruction of baby teeth no less than caries. No amount of silver will help you here. Many parents and dentists are faced with this problem, either they shrug their shoulders or use fluoride and silver on the principle of “what if it helps.”

Silvering does not always help

The third point is stress. Of course, silvering your teeth doesn’t hurt. Only now, if you are bringing a baby to the doctors who is barely one and a half years old, he will be very nervous.

There are also those parents who are delighted. They had the procedure done on time and, apart from black teeth, there were no negative consequences. The caries stopped, which means the method helped them. There are as many such reviews as those that talk about the uselessness of using this method.

Many children suffer from mineral imbalances. Without understanding it properly, dentists prescribe silver plating. Of course, there is practically no benefit from such work. After all, the problem is “internal” and has nothing to do with caries. Therefore, the destruction continues. To help a child in such circumstances, you need a competent, and most importantly, comprehensive approach, including:

• diet correction;
• prescription of vitamin and mineral complexes;
• external use of pastes and other means of demineralization of enamel;

Girl at the dentist

The most interesting thing is to read how, under pressure from worried parents, permanent teeth are silvered for seven-year-old children. This is nonsense and should not be done under any circumstances. Especially when it comes to caries of permanent teeth. They will not change and will remain black forever! It will be very difficult for the child when he grows up. What to do next? Should I get crowns or veneers after 18 years of age? Don't create additional problems for your children in the future.

Oral hygiene is very important

You can also advise trivial but important things - no matter how capricious children are or struggle, you should brush their teeth twice a day. Choose a good brush and toothpaste. When they grow up, they will thank you for healthy teeth. Do not give them sweets at night, do not feed them, do not give them juices. All these typical mistakes of parents always end equally badly.

Why is it important to save every baby tooth?

• To protect permanent teeth.
  Advanced caries can not only lead to the destruction of milk teeth, but also damage the rudiments of permanent ones.
• To form the correct bite.
  Early removal of baby teeth will lead to displacement of the dentition, and the permanent bite will be incorrect.
• For the health of body systems.
  Long-term absence of teeth can lead to disruption of the digestive system, as the child will not be able to chew food well.

Advantages and disadvantages

Like any procedure, silvering baby teeth has its obvious advantages and annoying disadvantages. Therefore, there are not only its defenders, but also opponents. For children from three years to six years old, this is an almost ideal way to protect themselves from caries and other dental troubles. This procedure is effective, painless, easy to perform, and for the child it is a kind of adventure. The main thing is that the parents first explain to him that the doctor will apply special metal protection to the teeth. It will protect your teeth from harmful and very dangerous microbes.

A very important advantage of silvering is its simplicity and painlessness. It is very important for the child that he does not feel any unpleasant sensations. Tell him in advance that the dentist will not use a drill and will not give any painkillers.

This unique technique is also good because it can even fight the early stages of caries. In addition, if there are problems with the enamel, if there are not enough minerals, then silvering will help eliminate this problem. After high-quality silvering, the enamel will become even stronger, and various acids will not have such a destructive effect on it. But it is organic acids that can destroy enamel and dentin so quickly.

We remembered from our school chemistry course that silver is the metal that all dangerous microorganisms are very afraid of. It is thanks to this amazing effect that after the teeth are coated with silver nitrate, the destruction of the fragile enamel of baby teeth is stopped. But in fairness, let us clarify that this does not always happen. Silvering teeth is a procedure that may not always be quite effective. The problem is that caries is caused by very specific and resistant bacteria. They can penetrate the tooth enamel quite deeply. If this happens, then silver is not always able to reach these aggressors.

The silver solution is truly capable of creating a durable protective layer. But it will be located exclusively on the surface of the tooth. And we have already mentioned that bacteria are localized not only on the surface of the enamel itself. They can penetrate deep into the enamel and even into dentin. Therefore, silvering of teeth will be effective only if the child does not have caries or it is located only on the very surface of the enamel. If there are already areas of deep caries damage, if carious cavities have appeared and the infection has penetrated them, then there is no point in performing silver plating. In this case, you just need to treat caries. If, if your child has deep caries, you still apply silver plating, the protective film will cover the foci of infection, but will not destroy them. The teeth will continue to actively decay.

If the caries was too advanced and the dental nerve (pulp) was damaged, the situation would be even worse. Silver nitrate not only won’t help, it can even cause harm. The fact is that it has an irritating effect on the nerve of the tooth. Yes, it shouldn’t get into the pulp area. With healthy teeth, silver nitrate remains only on the enamel itself. But if there is deep caries, then silver nitrate can penetrate through the resulting cavity to the pulp itself. At the same time, it will act irritatingly, causing pain. The disease itself will worsen even more after such treatment.

According to dentists, silver plating has important undeniable advantages:

1. The procedure is painless.
2. It runs quickly.
3. Quite effective if there is no deep caries.
4. It will not require a large expenditure of material resources.

Let's try to find out if this is really the case. It is difficult to argue with the fact that this procedure is performed quickly and without any pain. But no one can give guarantees as to how effective it is. It all depends on the condition of the child’s teeth and his individual characteristics. And this procedure is not always cheap. Everything will depend on how many times a year you need to perform it in order to get the desired effect.

There are some nuances that also need to be taken into account. For example, silvering is not done immediately. First, the doctor will recommend professional enamel cleaning. If you think it's easy, it's not always the case. In some cases, cleaning may take quite a long time. It may turn out that the child has a strong plaque on his teeth and even tartar. In this case, the plaque will not allow high-quality coating of the tooth enamel with silver nitrate and the desired therapeutic effect will not be obtained.

Secondly, it is very important that the doctor performs the silvering itself to the highest possible quality. He must ensure that all the requirements and necessary steps of this procedure are followed. If the doctor does not have sufficient experience, and he treats the silvering of baby teeth without the proper degree of responsibility, then the procedure may simply turn out to be useless. In such cases, using silvering will not only restore teeth that have already begun to decay, but even protect healthy ones.

Thirdly, as we have already mentioned, silver nitrate fights only the initial manifestations of caries. With a medium or deep defeat, he will be absolutely powerless. The doctor will refuse this method if he finds that the child has developing caries or even the pulp is affected. You yourself can evaluate whether it is advisable for your child to have silver plating. Just take a close look at his teeth. If you notice dark spots on them, even very tiny ones, it means that caries has already reached the stage of development at which silvering will be useless. At the initial stage, caries looks only like chalky spots on the enamel. You won't be able to delete them. This is what distinguishes caries at this stage from tartar or dental plaque. By the way, with advanced caries, silver plating will not only be useless. It can even prevent the dentist from finding new lesions.

It is also questionable how cheap this technique will be. To get the maximum effect, for silvering to really “work”, it will need to be done several times a year. In some cases, this procedure will need to be performed monthly. Well, on average it’s 2-4 times a year. As a result, silver plating can be quite expensive. But at the same time, this procedure will several times reduce the likelihood that the child will develop caries. For most parents, this argument will be decisive.

It is also impossible not to mention the aesthetics of silver plating. The fact is that the peculiarity of silver nitrate is that when it comes into contact with enamel, it colors it in an unsightly gray-black shade. Of course, it doesn't look very attractive. This color of the teeth will remain until the silver-plated milk teeth are replaced by permanent teeth. For three-year-olds this is unlikely to pose any problem at all. But older children may resist this.

By the way, silvering has a good alternative - fluoridation. Fluoride can significantly mineralize and strengthen enamel. It, of course, will not fight bacteria as effectively, but the enamel itself will become less susceptible. During fluoridation, the tooth surface is carefully treated with a special fluoride paste. After the procedure, the enamel will become stronger, but at the same time retain its snow-white color.

So, the advantages of silvering:

1. It is possible to stop the development of caries at an early stage or prevent it altogether.
2. Can be used to protect children's dental health.
3. The procedure is relatively inexpensive.
4. It does not cause fear or rejection in children.

Flaws:

1. If there is deep caries damage, the method will be ineffective.
2. Due to silvering, tooth enamel turns black for a long time.

For the last reason, silvering should not be done before the child goes to school. Children may make fun of his teeth. Because of this, the baby may develop psychological problems and low self-esteem.

How does this technique work?

As you already understand, the main component in this procedure is silver. This is what the dentist uses to coat the surface of baby teeth. Initially, doctors used a solution of silver nitrate (30%). Now these medicinal pastes have become even more advanced. Now they have begun to add fluoride, which is so important for healthy enamel, to their composition. This is not surprising, since fluoride only enhances the healing effect of silver. While this noble metal effectively disinfects the surface of teeth, fluorine mineralizes them.

Dentists have been successfully using this technique for several decades. Of course, in treatment they do not use the metal in its pure form, but only its salts. At the moment when the substance from the drug interacts with the inorganic component of tooth enamel, crystals of silver phosphate, as well as calcium fluoride, are formed. They have the unique property of sealing the so-called dentinal tubules. Thanks to this, the infection can no longer easily penetrate inside. As we have already mentioned, silver ions also cope well with infection. Thus, you will get a denser tooth surface, which will become an order of magnitude more resistant to the aggressive influence of bacteria and acids.

In this case, only the smooth surface of the teeth is silvered. It is best to take your baby to the doctor when he is 2.5-3 years old. This is the optimal age for silvering baby teeth.

Different dental offices use drugs from different manufacturers, but they all have approximately the same composition and principle of action. Their main component is silver fluoride diamine. It has a pronounced antiseptic effect. Simply put, after the teeth silvering procedure, no harmful microorganisms remain on them. But they are the main culprits in the development of caries and other dental problems.

If you are afraid that this procedure will be difficult for your child, then we hasten to dissuade you from this. Silvering is performed very quickly and is absolutely painless. The child will only need to open his mouth for a few minutes. The procedure itself consists of the fact that the doctor must thoroughly wipe the entire surface of the teeth with a solution containing silver. This way it will disinfect it and prevent the development of dangerous diseases, including caries. He must do this carefully and carefully enough so that the child has only pleasant memories of going to the doctor. In this case, he will not be afraid to go to him again. Silver compounds are applied to the enamel using a standard cotton swab.

When silver fluoride diamine comes into contact with tooth enamel or dentin, an important chemical reaction begins. During this process, the formation of compounds that are extremely important for dental health begins. This is silver phosphate itself and calcium fluoride. These substances have unique properties. They can seal small dental tubules. This makes teeth stronger and also less sensitive. In addition, they can even treat caries in its early stages. In addition, these substances can effectively fight various bacteria and microorganisms. But they are the ones who can provoke caries. Children experience tooth decay even more often than adults. And it develops faster, because baby teeth are softer and have a thinner layer of enamel and dentin. Therefore, it is very easy for caries to destroy them and penetrate into the deeper layers.

Thanks to silvering, a strong protective film appears on the entire surface of the lower and upper teeth. It is this that prevents harmful microorganisms from settling on the enamel. Thanks to this wonderful effect, the infection does not linger on the surface of the teeth and does not penetrate into their deeper layers. This is reliable protection for immature dentin of baby teeth.

When should the silvering procedure be performed? Of course, we really want to preserve dental health from a very early age. But until all his baby teeth grow in and his dentition is formed, there is simply no point in doing this. Only when the baby has all his milk teeth should he start silvering them. This will take place around the age of three. By this time, the child's bite will be formed. Despite the fact that very effective pastes with a high content of silver and fluoride are now used, it is not possible to solve the problem in one procedure. You will need to perform several silvering procedures throughout the year. The dentist should tell you exactly how many sessions your child needs. At the same time, he takes into account the general condition of the baby’s teeth and oral cavity, his taste preferences and the presence of concomitant diseases. If your baby really loves sweets, you will have to make more efforts to ensure that dangerous bacteria and aggressive lactic acid do not accumulate in his mouth. After all, it is lactic acid that becomes the culprit for the rapid destruction of enamel. In addition, the frequency of necessary procedures will be affected by what type of feeding the child was on. If this is artificial feeding, then many formulas contain an increased amount of carbohydrates. Carbohydrates have an extremely negative effect on the condition of enamel. Residues of food high in carbohydrates remain on the teeth, bacteria multiply in them, they break down carbohydrates and aggressive acids reappear. This chain has a very detrimental effect on the condition of the enamel.

When you visit the dentist, you should tell him in detail about what type of feeding the child was on, to what age, how old he is now, what foods predominate in his diet. Only based on complete and reliable information about the child will the doctor be able to prescribe the required number of silvering procedures. Their number can vary quite a lot for different children. Therefore, if your friend’s child received two silver coins a year, and this turned out to be enough, this does not mean that this amount will be enough for your child. Silvering can be performed every month, or once every six months. Everything is very individual.

Alternative

Silvering is a method that, although effective, is quite outdated. Now there are a number of alternative ways to protect against caries and other diseases.

1. Ozonation. This is a dental treatment that uses ozone. It has a tremendous antimicrobial effect. After this procedure, the infection dies, and caries stops in its development.
2. Fluoridation (remineralization). A fairly popular technique in which teeth are treated with preparations that contain fluoride. This mineral is very beneficial for enamel. It strengthens it perfectly. A thin film of minerals is created on its surface. They are able to protect teeth from bacteria for a long time. But this method can be used after the child reaches the age of three.

CARRYING OUT THE PROCEDURE

First, the dentist cleans the surface of the tooth so that no foreign particles from food remain on it. Then apply the mixture with a cotton swab and leave until hardened. They don't do anything else.

What is the coating solution made of? It contains silver nitrate - 30%. In dental practice, fluoride compounds can be added to silver nitrate, which have a strengthening effect on the enamel.

Note! The method of silvering baby teeth will need to be repeated several times. The dentist will notify you about this.

How many times does silvering need to be done? Sometimes this is done every three months, sometimes the baby needs to repeat the procedure every six months. What determines the frequency of the procedure? This is due to the type of feeding (breastfeeding or formula feeding) and the structure of the enamel of the molars. Thin enamel requires more careful care than durable enamel.

When is re-silvering required? The film wears off over time due to chewing of food. The silver film reacts to acids from food, so the child must be shown to the dentist regularly.

ARGENATE AND SAPHORITE

Modern dentistry suggests using drugs such as Argenate and Saforite containing silver fluoride diamine.

Argenate can be one-component or two-component. One-component is used to strengthen enamel and clog dentin tubules. The two-component drug has a similar effect for a longer period. It is used in the treatment of cervical caries, since the petroleum jelly contained in the composition protects the mucous membrane from burns by silver ions. After using Argenate, a dark film forms on the teeth, just like after silvering.

The drug Saforide is an analogue of Argenate of Japanese origin, therefore it costs many times more. In terms of the quality of the effect, it does not differ from Argenate. After imported drugs, teeth darken in the same way and are not cleaned with toothpastes.

Is it possible to do silver plating at home?

Although the procedure is extremely simple, it is strictly not recommended to perform it at home. The drugs themselves are relatively safe, but it is important to take into account all the nuances so that silvering is safe and effective. If silvering is done incorrectly, you can cause a dangerous allergic reaction in a child.

First, it is important to consider how much decay your child's teeth have. If it penetrates deeply, there is no point in silvering it. And if dentin has already been damaged, then the pulp may even suffer due to silvering.

Secondly, before silvering, it is important to very thoroughly clean all plaque from the surface of the teeth. This is only possible in a dental office. Entrust such a responsible task only to an experienced dentist!

So, we have revealed all the pros and cons of the procedure for silvering baby teeth. The choice is yours.

What is ICON treatment for caries of primary teeth and how is it carried out?

The ICON procedure can help with superficial caries of primary teeth. Methodologically, it is similar to silvering. Damaged enamel is coated with a special active composition that destroys carious bacteria and activates regeneration processes.

This does not require drilling, and the solution itself is transparent and invisible to the eye. It “preserves” caries, preventing its development, and activates the natural restoration of the tooth.

Pros and cons of ICON treatment

The ICON technique is the most modern method of caries treatment. It is characterized by high efficiency and comfort for the patient:

• The child does not experience any unpleasant sensations
  . At all. The carious spot does not need to be drilled; it is simply covered with active gel using a special brush.
• The active gel penetrates the micropores of enamel and dentin, destroying bacteria even in the most inaccessible places.
• The gel is transparent and completely invisible.

There is also a downside - this procedure is a little more expensive than silvering, and will also only help in the treatment of superficial caries (however, like silvering). But when it comes to the health of not only baby teeth, but permanent teeth, saving is not something that should serve as a motivator for loving parents.