A painted-on liquid for childhood cavities

Where it stands as of Oct 28, 2026

A University of Michigan-led Phase III trial in JAMA Pediatrics enrolled 830 children under 6 and found 38% silver diamine fluoride stopped decay in 54.0% of treated lesions at six months, against 22.5% with a placebo. Treatment-related adverse events were similar, 47.3% with the liquid and 43.3% with placebo. The silver permanently darkens the decayed part of the tooth, and a regulatory approval is not confirmed because no drug application is known to have been filed.