Sometimes an acronym is just meant to be! This is the case for SMART Fillings.As pediatric dentists, our top priority is to provide safe, effective, and minimally invasive dental treatments for children. One of the ways we achieve this is through the use of the Silver Modified Atraumatic Restorative Technique (SMART) filling.What are SMART Fillings? SMART is a unique type of dental filling that uses a combination of silver diamine fluoride (SDF) and glass ionomer to restore decayed or damaged teeth. The SDF component provides antimicrobial and strengthening properties, while the glass ionomer component releases fluoride and restores structural defects to help prevent future decay.
This combination results in a filling that is both strong and long-lasting, making it an ideal choice for children.
Silver has been used since the 1800’s to help treat cavities. SDF has been widely used in Japan and other Asian countries for over 50 years!
One of the most common spots for cavities over a lifetime is under existing fillings? Bioactive glass fillings greatly reduce the risk of developing another cavity by remineralizing the area around the filling
You care for SMART fillings similarly to how you would care for other fillings which are to practice good oral hygiene, attend regular dental appointments, and limit exposure to wear and tear and stains. Your child should brush their teeth twice a day and floss at least once per day, if under 7 they should get help from an adult.
Children should visit the dentist for regular cleanings and exams every 6 months to confirm the filling looks good, check for cavities, and review how to prevent future cavities. SMART fillings take multiple visits. After SDF patients should not eat or drink for an hour. After the Filling part of a SMART Filling, patients should avoid hard foods for two days while the filling finishes setting. Children should always avoid Very hard things such as chewing Ice and Jaw Breakers.
A good candidate for a SMART filling is a child with a cavity, dental anxiety, special needs, sensitive teeth, and/or hypomineralized teeth. The biggest advance of SMART fillings is that they are minimally-invasive and allow for a conservative, strong restoration. Ultimately this improves the comfort of
our patients and reduces future fear of the dentist – building strong roots for growing smiles!
Glass ionomer is a “bioactive” material that continues to release fluoride from extrinsic sources (toothpaste, water, food, etc.) into the teeth to help prevent future cavities.
