Silver Diamine Fluoride as Indirect Pulp Capping Agent in Primary Molars: A Case Series

According to the current recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD), Indirect Pulp Capping or Indirect Pulp Treatment (IPT) is defined as a procedure that preserves the deepest cavities adjacent to the pulp to prevent pulp exposure. Preserving and protecting the vital pulp through remineralisation of hypomineralised carious dentin poses a significant challenge in restorative dentistry. Traditionally, managing deep caries often led to pulp exposure and subsequent root canal treatment. Selective or stepwise caries removal is based on the concept of halting the progression of carious destruction, allowing for biological repair of the pulp-dentin complex by promoting the formation of tertiary dentin between temporary and definitive restorations. Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF) has gained popularity due to its unique combination of silver and fluoride, which provides antimicrobial and remineralising properties. In this case series of three cases, three-year-old preschool boy, five year old girl and five year old girl, in whom, deep carious lesions in primary molars were treated using selective caries removal techniques with SDF as an IPT agent, resulting in successful minimally invasive restorative procedures. This case series underscores the importance of employing selective caries removal techniques and the potential use of SDF as an IPT agent in such scenarios to preserve tooth vitality in a less invasive therapeutic approach suitable for the pediatric population.