Human Primary Tooth Histology Six Months after Treatment with Silver Diamine Fluoride

Objective: To describe the histological characteristics of a human primary tooth with deep caries next to the dental pulp 6 months after being treated with silver diamine fluoride (SDF). Study design: A tooth that was considered to be not restorable 6 months after being treated with SDF was examined with light microscopy. Results: the histologic examination revealed no carious pulp exposure, tertiary dentin, a flattened odontoblastic layer adjacent to irregular tertiary dentin, dentinal tubules with silver deposits to a depth of I mm and no bacteria, and a pulp with no significant inflammation. Conclusions: The use of silver diamine fluoride as an interim treatment of deep caries on vital carious primary teeth of children, leads to histologic changes that prevent pain and pulp deterioration, and most likely facilitate pulp healing. These unique findings expand the knowledge about the effect of SDF on the human dental tissues.