AN EASY-TO-APPLY, GOOD-TASTING, AND TRANSPARENT 5% SODIUM FLUORIDE VARNISH
Find out why Dr. Ronni Brown believes VOCO's Profluorid Varnish is:
• Ideal for desensitizing as well as remineralizing teeth.
• Easy to apply because of its thinner consistency.
• A great conversation starter with patients about the importance of fluoride.
As a provider of dental services to people detained in the Sonoma County correctional facility, I see many patients who have a very low oral health literacy, have never seen a dentist, and sometimes don’t even know how to brush their teeth. Because this is a fairly transient population, dental services are confined mostly to emergency services. However, when I can save teeth, I start with trying to prevent the disease process from advancing.
Patients with significant dental decay have a lot of Class V lesions, which are extremely sensitive to air and cold. By applying VOCO's Profluorid Varnish, which I’ve used since 2012, I’m able to quickly seal up the dentinal tubules, which allows me to create comfort almost immediately. If someone is a drug user (usually methamphetamine), they are in a perpetual cycle of demineralization. For them, Profluorid Varnish promotes remineralization and allows the enamel to be more caries resistant. This buys me time if it takes several appointments to deal with all the decay in the mouth.
Desensitize and Remineralize
I use Profluorid Varnish in patients with generalized gingival recession due to periodontal disease. After I’ve applied the varnish, they can enjoy ice cream again—one of the simple pleasures of life. Another patient may have just one premolar with a little bit of recession, but every time they touch it with a toothbrush, they have nerve pain. Applying ProfluoridVarnish can desensitize that pretty much immediately.
I love Profluorid Varnish because it is really well-tolerated by patients. It’s clear, so patients who already have an esthetic issue don’t have to walk around with yellowish or brownish teeth for the rest of the day. It contains xylitol, which doesn’t convert to acid and also makes Profluorid Varnish a good caries-fighting agent. It comes in 4 great flavors, and because it’s a varnish, it stays in contact with the tooth surface for extended periods compared to the other modes of administration. With Profluorid Varnish, you have more fluoride (6,000 ppm of 5% sodium fluoride) release within the first 2 hours compared to other topical fluorides.
Profluorid Varnish comes in single-dose packaging, along with a brush. You can apply it to moistened teeth because it sets when it comes in contact with saliva. It has a very long working time; it doesn’t get gummy like some varnishes; and I don’t have to light cure it. It’s very easy to use—I can apply it in seconds.
Educating Patients and Saving Teeth
A lot of what we do as dentists can take time. This is something that takes almost no time, but you’re doing something that can really benefit your patients. It also provides a talking point to educate patients about the benefits of fluoride in their tap water and their toothpaste, and overall, why they should be using fluoride.
Many of my patients really want to save their teeth. I’m glad there is something I can do in the short-term that will slow down the process of demineralization and in the long-term to promote remineralization, so they can have their teeth restored at some point, if possible. That’s why a fluoride varnish like Profluorid Varnish is one of the most important tools that I have in my toolbox to assist these patients.
