Freeze! You’re under ARREST! That’s what I tell tooth decay whenever I see it and usually, I am able to put it away for good! However sometimes, I have to leave a little decay behind. It makes me feel uncomfortable knowing that there is STILL decay under my beautiful restorations. I wish there was something out there that I can place over the decay to completely ARREST it. Oh wait, there is!
Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF) is an amazing medicament that can be placed topically to arrest decay, WITHOUT any mechanical removal of tooth structure! Imagine not having to drill out any decay on your terrified pediatric patients or avoiding an extraction on an elderly patient with a complex medical history.
Wouldn’t it be awesome if it were a covered service? Well guess what? As of April 1, 2019, ForwardHealth now covers SDF application for children and adults WITHOUT the need of a prior authorization (PA).
For more information about SDF and its benefits, please visit this website and schedule your free all-staff educational CE presentation. Yes, it’s FREE! Yes, ForwardHealth covers it. Yes, it’s AMAZING!!!
-James M. Younan, D.M.D, MPH
I recently read dental assistants can place SDF treatments in 38 states. Is Wisconsin one of those states?
According to Admin Rule DE 12, it appears that SDF could be considered a delegated duty to assistants once the dentist already provides the treatment plan for it.
I would highly encourage any office, whether having an assistant, hygienist or dentist place the SDF, to also include an educational component to the patient/parent prior to the service being performed due to the change in tooth color that will occur once the SDF is placed. https://blog.wda.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Admin-Rule-on-Delegation-of-Duties-DE-12-2-7.2014.pdf
Thank you – yes we have patients/parent/guardian always sign a consent with the understanding the decay will turn black. Have a great day.