Silver-Based Caries Management: Understanding Silver Diamine Fluoride & Silver Nitrate

Silver-Based Caries Management:

Understanding Silver Diamine Fluoride and Silver Nitrate for Non-Invasive Decay Arrest

Attend as a Live Interactive Webinar or Live at our School

Credits:         2 CEU’s

Educational Objectives

At the completion of this 2-hour course, participants will be able to:

1. Explain the primary mechanism of action of silver in Silver Diamine Fluoride, including its antimicrobial, biofilm-disrupting, and dentin-stabilizing effects, and distinguish these actions from the role of fluoride.
2. Evaluate the clinical benefits and limitations of silver-based caries arrest therapies, including indications, contraindications, esthetic outcomes such as discoloration, and overall effectiveness in arresting active decay.
3. Compare Silver Diamine Fluoride with silver nitrate as a non-fluoride alternative, including mechanisms of action, appropriate patient selection, and clinical considerations for patients who decline fluoride exposure.
4. Apply safe and effective clinical protocols for silver-based agents, including patient communication and informed consent, prevention and management of accidental staining of skin, soft tissue, clothing, and operatory surfaces.

Course Description

Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF) has emerged as a powerful, minimally invasive option for arresting dental caries across the lifespan. While often discussed as a fluoride-based therapy, the primary therapeutic action of SDF lies in the antimicrobial and biofilm-disrupting properties of silver. This course provides an evidence-informed exploration of how silver functions to arrest decay, reduce pathogenic bacterial load, and stabilize dentin—while also addressing the role of fluoride in remineralization.

Participants will review indications, contraindications, and clinical protocols for SDF, including informed consent, patient selection, and management of the most common adverse effect: permanent black discoloration of carious dentin. For patients who decline fluoride exposure, the course will also introduce silver nitrate as a historical and contemporary alternative for caries arrest, comparing mechanisms, outcomes, and limitations.

Clinical safety considerations will be emphasized, including best practices for preventing and managing accidental staining of skin, soft tissue, clothing, and operatory surfaces. This course equips dental professionals with practical, ethical, and patient-centered strategies for incorporating silver-based therapies into modern caries management.

 

Credits:        2 CEU’s 

Instructor:   Fran Horning BRDH, HIAOMT

Fran is a certified and accredited biological dental hygienist with 37 years of experience in the field and lectures internationally.  She is the Associate Director of the International Academy of Biological Dentistry and Medicine, serves on their board, and is the Hygiene Committee Chair. Fran serves on the IAOMT Hygiene Committee and as a Hygiene Mentor. She is a coach/trainer in the practice of biological dentistry for Integrative Perio Solutions LLC,  KT Dental Seminars LLC, and she presents regularly at Dental Studies Institute.

Requirements to attend a live webinar:

Live webinars are considered live credits, not distance learning.

You will need a smartphone, tablet, laptop or desktop computer to view it. If using a smartphone or tablet, it is best to have the app for the program on your device (i.e. Zoom).
To verify your continued attendance during the class, you will need a microphone, webcam or the ability to type into the program’s live chat.
Instructors or school personnel will take attendance periodically throughout the class.
Instructors may call on participants.
To verify attendance, a code word may be given sometime during the class.
You will be required to complete and return an evaluation after the course has ended. The evaluation may ask what code word was given.
You may not receive your Certificate of Completion if we cannot verify your attendance.

Live webinar invitations are emailed to registered students approximately one day prior to the class.

Certificates of Completion are emailed to students approximately 5 business days after the course.

This program is for the full dental staff – no prior skills are needed to attend.

The teaching method will be in a lecture format with a Q & A period.

DSI Staff or administration do not have any commercial interest or relationship to the speaker.

The content and format of the Continuing Education course is presented without commercial bias and does not claim superiority of any commercial product or service.  No DSI Staff have any financial relationship with the speaker or company.