Table 2.

Summary of publications studying the effects of silver diamine fluoride (SDF) on the mineral content of enamel

Authors, Year (Language)	Methods	Main findings
Suzuki et al., 1974 (English)37	(1) Human enamel blocks treated with 38% SDF were immersed in artificial saliva for 1 week before EPMA. (2) Enamel powder treated with 38% SDF was immersed in artificial saliva containing thiocyanate for 20 weeks before XRD	(1) Fluoride and silver were detected within 20 μm and 10 μm from the enamel surface, respectively. (2) CaF2 was formed but gradually disappeared within 10 weeks. Ag3PO4 was formed but disappeared after 1 week. AgSCN was retained for up to 20 weeks
Li et al., 1984 (Chinese)23	Demineralised enamel blocks with internal control, treated with 38% SDF, were immersed in lactic acid for 2 days before MCR and MHT	SDF-treated blocks had less lesion depth and increased microhardness (P < 0.05) compared with the negative control. SDF stained demineralized, but not sound, enamel black
Klein et al., 1999 (English)10	Demineralised enamel blocks treated with 38% SDF were subjected to challenge with cariogenic biofilm for 2, 4 and 6 weeks before PLM	SDF-treated enamel blocks had less lesion depth compared with control blocks up to 4 weeks of biofilm challenge
Li et al., 2001 (Chinese)32	Demineralised enamel blocks were treated with SDF three times per week for 4 weeks before MHT	SDF-treated enamel blocks had increased microhardness compared with the control
Wu et al., 2002 (Chinese)34	Demineralised enamel blocks, treated and untreated (control) with 38% SDF, were immersed in remineralising solution for 4 days before AAS	SDF-treated blocks took up more calcium than did control blocks from the remineralising solution (P < 0.001)
Wu et al., 2002 (Chinese)35	Demineralised enamel blocks treated with 38% SDF were immersed in demineralising solution for 6 days before AAS	SDF-treated blocks released less calcium into the demineralising solution than did control blocks (P < 0.01)
Wang et al., 2005 (Chinese)40	Demineralised enamel blocks treated with 38% SDF were subjected to pH cycling for 10 days before SEM	Precipitates were formed on SDF-treated surfaces but not on water-treated surfaces
Rosas et al., 2014 (Spanish)13	Demineralised enamel blocks treated with 38% SDF were subjected to pH cycling for 5, 10 and 15 days before PLM	SDF-treated enamel blocks had less mineral loss than the control after 5 and 10 days (P < 0.05)
Lou et al., 2011 (English)36	Hydroxyapatite powder and 10% gelatin were treated with 38% SDF. Treated materials were studied with SEM/TEM, EDX and ED before and after washing with water	CaF2 was formed when SDF reacted with hydroxyapatite powder but disappeared after washing. Metallic silver was produced when SDF reacted with gelatin

AAS, atomic absorption spectrometry; AgSCN, silver thiocyanate; Ag₃PO₄, silver phosphate; CaF₂, calcium fluoride; ED, electron diffraction; EDX, energy-dispersive X-ray analysis; EPMA, electron probe microanalysis; MCR, micro-contact radiography; MHT, micro-hardness testing; PLM, polarized light microscopy; SEM, scanning electron microsopy; TEM, transmission electron microscopy; XRD, X-ray diffraction.