--- title: "Trial finds a painless liquid stops decay in more than half of treated baby teeth" description: "Silver diamine fluoride takes seconds to apply and needs no drill, and a large U.S. trial now supplies the evidence for FDA review." url: https://lifestyle-health.skoop.news/scientists-find-a-simple-way-to-stop-cavities-without-drilli-7249ac/ published: 2026-10-25T23:33:53.574293-04:00 modified: 2026-10-25T23:33:53.574310-04:00 section: "Lifestyle & Health" publisher: "skoop.news" language: en keywords: ["SDF", "United States", "National Institute of Dental", "Elevate Oral Care", "Advantage Arrest", "Amr Moursi", "Craniofacial Research", "FDA", "COVID-19", "NYU"] hashtags: ["#UnitedStates", "#NationalInstituteOfDental", "#ElevateOralCare", "#lifestyle", "#wellness"] image: https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/74/Briviesca_-_Hospital_of_Nuestra_Se%C3%B1ora_del_Rosario_-BT-_01.jpg/1280px-Briviesca_-_Hospital_of_Nuestra_Se%C3%B1ora_del_Rosario_-BT-_01.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail --- # Trial finds a painless liquid stops decay in more than half of treated baby teeth > Silver diamine fluoride takes seconds to apply and needs no drill, and a large U.S. trial now supplies the evidence for FDA review. Published 2026-10-25 · Updated 2026-10-25 · Lifestyle & Health, [skoop.news](https://skoop.news/) ## In brief - In a U.S. clinical trial, 38% silver diamine fluoride (SDF) stopped tooth decay in more than half of the affected baby teeth when applied every six months [[1]](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260729010719.htm). - SDF is a low-cost liquid that dentists apply directly to a cavity with a small sponge-tipped applicator, a process that takes only a few seconds for each tooth [[1]](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260729010719.htm). - Untreated cavities can lead to intense pain, infections, difficulty sleeping or eating, missed school days and repeated medical appointments [[1]](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260729010719.htm). ## The finding In a U.S. clinical trial, 38% silver diamine fluoride (SDF) stopped tooth decay in more than half of the affected baby teeth when applied every six months [[1]](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260729010719.htm). The result matters for children, since tooth decay is the most common chronic disease among them and affects more than 40% of children in the United States [[1]](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260729010719.htm). Margherita Fontana, the study's lead investigator, said the treatment is very effective and safe, even in children as young as 1 [[1]](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260729010719.htm). Reported adverse events were similar between the SDF group and the placebo group [[2]](https://gizmodo.com/liquid-fluoride-can-stop-cavities-without-drilling-major-trial-finds-2000793920). ## How the treatment works SDF is a low-cost liquid that dentists apply directly to a cavity with a small sponge-tipped applicator, a process that takes only a few seconds for each tooth [[1]](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260729010719.htm). The treatment requires no drilling, injections, or sedation [[1]](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260729010719.htm). The liquid works through two ingredients. Silver helps combat bacteria associated with tooth decay, and fluoride helps strengthen the mineral structure of teeth [[3]](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261025222339.htm). Unlike a traditional filling, SDF does not replace lost tooth structure. It helps prevent existing decay from progressing [[3]](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261025222339.htm). For some children, reapplying SDF every few months may control the cavity until the baby tooth falls out naturally [[1]](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260729010719.htm). ## Why untreated cavities matter Untreated cavities can lead to intense pain, infections, difficulty sleeping or eating, missed school days and repeated medical appointments [[1]](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260729010719.htm). They also send thousands of young children in the United States to emergency departments each year [[1]](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260729010719.htm). Hospital doctors usually cannot repair the underlying dental problem. Some children keep suffering pain and infection, while others eventually need surgery under general anesthesia [[1]](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260729010719.htm). ## How the study was run and funded The research began in 2018 and continued despite disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic [[1]](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260729010719.htm). The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research provided more than $12 million to support the study [[1]](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260729010719.htm). Elevate Oral Care supplied Advantage Arrest 38% SDF, the product tested [[1]](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260729010719.htm). ## Where SDF stands with regulators SDF has been used successfully in many countries for decades [[1]](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260729010719.htm). In the United States, dentists have used it off-label since 2014, when the product was approved as a medical device for reducing tooth sensitivity [[1]](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260729010719.htm). Large U.S. clinical trials were needed to show SDF's safety and effectiveness as a cavity treatment. That evidence would be necessary for the FDA to approve SDF as a drug for treating tooth decay [[1]](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260729010719.htm). The trial generated the clinical evidence the manufacturer needs to submit a dental caries drug application to the FDA [[1]](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260729010719.htm). Amr Moursi, co-principal investigator at NYU, said the results support FDA approval of SDF for managing arrest of tooth decay in young children [[1]](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260729010719.htm). ## The visible drawback SDF permanently turns the decayed part of the tooth dark, which is the treatment's visible drawback [[1]](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260729010719.htm). ## What it means for you If you have a young child with a cavity, SDF is a treatment that needs no drilling, injections, or sedation [[1]](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260729010719.htm). Application takes only a few seconds for each tooth [[1]](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260729010719.htm). The main trade-off to weigh is that the decayed part of the tooth turns permanently dark [[1]](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260729010719.htm). Fontana said SDF could be particularly useful for very young children, older adults, people with developmental or physical disabilities, and patients with severe dental anxiety [[1]](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260729010719.htm). Because SDF does not replace lost tooth structure, it helps prevent existing decay from progressing [[3]](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261025222339.htm). In the trial, it was applied every six months [[1]](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260729010719.htm). ## Sources 1. [Scientists find a simple way to stop cavities without drilling](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260729010719.htm) — Science Daily 2. [Liquid Fluoride Can Stop Cavities Without Drilling, Major Trial Finds](https://gizmodo.com/liquid-fluoride-can-stop-cavities-without-drilling-major-trial-finds-2000793920) — gizmodo 3. [A simple liquid can stop cavities without drilling, major study confirms](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261025222339.htm) — ScienceDaily Image: Photo (illustrative): Basotxerri / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Briviesca_-_Hospital_of_Nuestra_Se%C3%B1ora_del_Rosario_-BT-_01.jpg) --- Written from the sources above and checked twice (rules and an independent model) before publishing. How we work: https://skoop.news/how-we-work/ · Corrections: https://skoop.news/corrections/