Raman spectroscopic evaluation of silver diamine fluoride in preventing acid-induced caries progression

Abstract

The antibacterial mechanisms of silver diamine fluoride, as well as its ability to prevent tooth caries, are well-established. The aim of this study was to provide a clear evaluation of whether silver diamine fluoride, in addition to its antibacterial properties, is capable of inhibiting the progression of dental caries in an acidic environment to the same extent as silver nitrate. The results will help determine which of these two compounds has greater potential for application in the prevention and treatment of early carious lesions. To achieve this goal, studies were conducted on teeth under four conditions: healthy, after first demineralization, following the application of the tested compounds, and after second demineralization. At each stage of the research, Raman spectroscopy was used to assess changes in the enamel structure. These findings showed that, although neither compound completely inhibits the progression of demineralization, both can slow it down. Furthermore, no significant differences were observed between the two compounds in their effectiveness in reducing lesion progression. A notable observation was that the silver diamine fluoride was washed away by the demineralizing solution, causing the protective barrier it provided to disappear. This finding may be attributed to the limited penetration depth of the compounds into the enamel. The compounds primarily penetrated the demineralized areas, but the depth of enamel demineralization in our study was approximately 200 µm. This limited penetration could explain the washing out of the compound and its reduced effectiveness in inhibiting demineralization.