The ARM-ER® Approach to Caries Management

First visit– silver fluoride applied 10 days later ‘Black diamond’ SMART restoration. No pain, no complaints!

First visit– silver fluoride applied 10 days later ‘Black diamond’ SMART restoration. No pain, no complaints!

First visit– silver fluoride applied 10 days later ‘Black diamond’ SMART restoration. No pain, no complaints! 11 months after placement

1st visit – Silver fluoride applied

  1. Silver fluoride to Assess and Redefine early decay – increasing the possibility of preventing the need for fillings in the future.
  2. Very deep caries can be assessed and managed with silver fluoride.

Using silver fluorides to:

1 month later. ’Black Diamonds’ 4 months after application.

Restore when patient is ready!

Assess ….Arrest?
Redefine…..Remineralise?
Black Diamonds Rock!!
Manage —
Educate and then

  • Review?
  • Repeat?
  • Restore?
  • Rehabilitate?
  • Re-establish?

How Does It Work? When Can It Be Used? Why Is It Beneficial?

Silver and fluoride ions are absorbed into the affected part of the tooth and continue to protect against ongoing bacterial activity on a hardened tooth surface.

Graphic courtesy Dr Jeremy Horst. WRDC 2017

The use of silver fluorides to assess decay status of an affected tooth area is an easy, safe and very effective method of managing the treatment plans for a single tooth or several teeth. It often means that treatment recommendations can be planned without compromising the teeth until the patient is able to have further treatment.

It is ideal when the patient is:

  • very young
  • medically compromised
  • very anxious
  • unable/ unlikely to easily access dental care.
  • unable to have treatment completed in one visit

ARM-ER® ~ Assess : Redefine: Manage - Educate & Review? Repeat? Restore? Rehabilitate? Re-establish?