Available in 5 patient-pleasing flavors, ACCLEAN One Step is quick and easy to apply in a single step
Bad first impressions can be difficult to overcome. Take fluoride treatments, for example. If a fluoride varnish has an unpleasant taste or texture, exacerbates sensitivity, or takes a long time to apply, it can leave a bad taste (pun intended) in a patient’s mouth. This type of negative experience can make a patient reluctant to return for further treatment.
Henry Schein developed ACCLEAN One Step 5% Sodium Fluoride Varnish to overcome these potential obstacles. As a topical treatment for hypersensitive teeth, the varnish is easy to apply and provides optimal fluoride release over a 4-hour period, according to the manufacturer. It’s offered in 5 palatable flavors and comes in convenient unit-dose packages.
“We have not tried this brand before, but think it is probably the best fluoride varnish for overall ease of use and patient satisfaction,” concluded Wisconsin hygienist Kristi Evansen, who was part of the group of dentists and hygienists who evaluated this ACCLEAN fluoride varnish and shared feedback with Dental Product Shopper.
Ease of Application
Available in convenient 0.4mL unit-dose packages with a specially designed brush applicator, this ACCLEAN fluoride varnish is applied in just one step. “It was easy to open, ready to apply, and quick to use,” said Evansen, who added, “I think the ease of use helped with time management of the appointment.” Dr. Marc Malatesta agreed that the varnish was very quick and easy to use, and added, “It saves time and helps with sensitivity.” Impressed with the easy-to-open packaging and easy application, hygienist Jessica Raymond-Allbritten pointed out that very little mixing is needed. Dr. Alan Pressman said he successfully applied the varnish on a “difficult” 8-year-old patient very quickly and without any problem. “Application was a breeze,” he concluded.
While applying the varnish, Cathy Alty, RDH, said the product flowed nicely from the brush to the teeth and adhered very well. Clinical Director Joan Fitzgerald identified ease of use and flowability as the features she liked most, and Dr. Fauzia Khan liked the one-step process best. “Some fluoride products used in the past had inconsistent coverage,” said Evansen. “This product had a nice consistency that was easy to apply evenly on the tooth,” she added.
Application on Wet Teeth and Reduced Sensitivity
When asked what he liked best about the varnish, Dr. Pressman replied, “ACCLEAN varnish applies well with saliva present. I tested [it] with variations from near bone dry to extremely wet, and it adhered to the dentition.” Raymond-Allbritten said the taste and flowability when applied to wet teeth could be improved, while Dr. Leonard Tau said he liked how this varnish for sensitive teeth sets on contact with saliva.
To maximize the benefits of fluoride, Henry Schein formulated the varnish to release fluoride steadily over a 4-hour period after application. Several evaluators commented on reduced sensitivity, including Dr. Khan, who said the varnish was critical to achieving a successful outcome in a patient who had severe sensitivity and carious lesions. When Cynthia Sanderson used it on a woman who is “so super sensitive,” she discovered that the patient’s sensitivity was much improved.
Taste and Texture
Each evaluator chose one or two of the product’s 5 xylitol-sweetened flavors—bubblegum, caramel, cherry, mint, raspberry — and commented on any patient reaction to taste or texture. “My patients seemed to like the taste and texture,” said hygienist Fern Rothstein, who tested the mint and raspberry flavors. Sanderson said she really liked everything about ACCLEAN One Step “except for the strong fluoride flavor coming through,” while Cherie King, RDH, said it tasted better than other varnishes. After applying the mint and caramel flavors on all patients receiving recare visits, Dr. Pressman concluded, “Out of the sample of over 100, I only had 2 complaints about taste. Ninety-eight out of over 100 liked the taste.”
“The texture on the teeth was a little less sticky than the [other] products I have used,” shared Rothstein. Acknowledging that a few patients complained about the texture, Raymond-Allbritten said she used ACCLEAN One Step on a patient who disliked the taste and texture of varnish in the past and discovered, “He would more than likely invest in the future due to the lack of grittiness.”
Overall Satisfaction
All but one of the evaluators said they would recommend ACCLEAN One Step to their colleagues, and together they determined this varnish for sensitive teeth was worthy of a DPS Recommended Product designation. “I think it is a superior product,” concluded Sanderson, adding, “I am hopeful that it will keep working for the full 4 months.” Evansen summed up her experiences by saying, “I really liked this product above other brands of fluoride varnish that we have used.”
