Silver Diamine Fluoride — ORE Part 1 MCQ

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EasyPaediatric DentistrySilver Diamine FluorideORE Part 1

A 5-year-old child has multiple cavitated carious lesions in primary teeth and is unable to tolerate conventional restorative treatment. The parents ask about silver diamine fluoride (SDF). What is its principal clinical benefit?

Educational content. Not a substitute for clinical judgement or local policy.

Reveal the answer and explanation

Correct answer: E — It arrests carious lesions using a minimally invasive approach

Explanation lettering: B = shown as A · D = shown as B · E = shown as D · A = shown as E

SDF is used as part of non-restorative cavity control to arrest cavitated carious lesions in primary teeth. Its key advantage is that it is minimally invasive: application does not require caries excavation, a handpiece or local anaesthesia, so it can be useful where conventional restorative care is not feasible. B is incorrect because SDF permanently darkens carious tooth tissue rather than whitening it. C is incorrect because SDF does not replace lost tooth structure or provide a restoration. D is incorrect because SDCEP finds insufficient evidence to support SDF for caries prevention, and it does not confer permanent protection. E is incorrect because signs of pulpal involvement, irreversible pulpitis or infection are contraindications to SDF use for caries arrest.

Reference: Scottish Dental Clinical Effectiveness Programme (SDCEP). Prevention and Management of Dental Caries in Children: “Silver diamine fluoride”, current online guidance, accessed July 2026. https://www.childcaries.sdcep.org.uk/guidance/dental-techniques/non-restorative-cavity-control/silver-diamine-fluoride/