Fluoride varnishes in caries prevention

Fluoride varnish is considered safe, well accepted by children, and easily delivered by pediatric dentists.

How does fluoride varnish work?

• It slows down the development of decay by stopping demineralisation.
• It can stop bacterial metabolism (at high concentrations) to produce less acid.
• It makes the enamel more resistant to acid attack and speeds up remineralisation.

How the application is?

• Fluoride Varnish treatments are carried out by a dental professional after thorough cleaning and drying.
• The varnish is typically applied with a small brush, probe, or applicator in a thin layer on high-risk tooth surfaces, such as occlusal fissures or between teeth (proximal surfaces).
• FV can also be applied directly on early caries lesions to arrest or remineralize the surface.
• The varnish should dry and set for one minute
• Immediately following application the child can close his mouth because the varnish hardens on contact with saliva and forms a film that adheres to tooth surfaces.
• We recommended our patients to avoid eating for two hours following the application of the varnish and not brush their teeth that same day. This allows the varnish to remain in contact with the dental enamel for several hours.

What are white spot lesions?

• White spot lesions are areas of demineralized enamel that usually develop because of prolonged plaque accumulation.
• White spot lesions can occur on any tooth surface in the oral cavity where the microbial biofilm is allowed to develop and remain for a period of time.

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