We all know that good oral healthcare begins at an early age (by age 1, if we’re following the guidelines of the American Association of Pediatric Dentistry and American Dental Association). For optimal compliance in young dental patients, many practices turn to products that are quick and easy to use. One such product is fl uoride varnish, which is painted on the teeth versus a fl uoride gel or foam, which is used in conjunction with a fl uoride tray.


Read on to learn more about fluoride varnish to decide whether or not it’s right for your patients and your practice!


APPLICATION PROCESS


• With varnish, the tooth surface needs only to be “toothbrush clean”


1 • Open the unit dose package and dispense


• Apply varnish to the treatment area. Full mouth application takes about 30 seconds


FLOWABILITY


• The fl uoride varnish beneath the set surface layer continues to fl ow from treated to untreated surfaces for at least 4 hours. In other words, if the varnish is painted only on the buccal and occlusal surfaces of the teeth, it will fl ow on its own to the lingual surfaces and into hard-to-reach places, interproximally


3 12 May / June 2015 ADHESION


• Fluoride varnishes are tenacious; they will remain in place where they are painted


2


• Only a thin fi lm needs to be painted for the fl uoride varnish to be eff ective


• To set the varnish, the patient should close his/her mouth. This puts the varnish in contact with saliva, which sets it onto tooth surfaces until it is brushed off


• Some varnishes contain additional benefi cial ingredients, such as calcium, which can strengthen teeth and help provide relief from hypersensitivity due to varnish’s ability to penetrate and seal dentin tubules


4 FORMULA Prices subject to change without notice.


Fluoride Varnish


WHEN IS IT RIGHT FOR YOUR PATIENTS AND YOUR PRACTICE


BY KRISTEN GIRNAU, PATTERSON DENTAL MERCHANDISE SPECIALIST, FORMER DENTAL ASSISTANT


?


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52