Most people love the refreshing feeling they get after a professional polishing, which is why advertisers often promote this “fresh feeling” when selling toothbrushes, toothpastes, and mouthwashes. However, the feeling of a dental cleaning followed by a fluoride varnish application is unlikely to sell anything—including selling a patient on the idea of another fluoride varnish application down the road.
“No one likes varnish because of the way it feels on their teeth,” said Jessica Raymond-Allbritten, RDH. “But Kettenbach has solved this problem with Profisil Fluoride Varnish. It isn’t sticky, gunky, or gritty, and it feels so smooth. It’s like you don’t even have varnish on your teeth,” she explained.
Formulated to eliminate the stickiness, tackiness, and clumping that patients dislike, this 5% sodium fluoride varnish gel instead leaves a smooth, silky, natural, and clean feeling on the teeth—all while relieving sensitivity. The mild mint and berry flavors are patient-friendly, and an unflavored option “is amazing for patients sensitive to flavors,” shared Raymond-Allbritten. “Profisil is easy to apply, tastes good, and feels smooth. And, best of all, you can’t see it on your teeth,” she declared. “Every one of my patients loved it. I didn’t get one complaint or negative comment.”
Application & Consistency
Packaged in convenient, single-dose blister packs, Profisil Fluoride Varnish is easy to apply to wet or dry surfaces with the applicator brush. The non-clumping formula provides convenience for the clinician and eliminates the need to replace gummy brushes.
Ease of application received high marks from the hygienists and dentists who participated in this review, including hygienist Jennifer Gugliotti, who called it “easy to apply without making a mess.” She also appreciated that “it has a thicker viscosity than other brands we’ve used and doesn’t spill out of the reservoir easily, which is great when opening the package chairside.” Hygienist Kayla Boyd described the consistency as great, and Karen Dong, RDH, was impressed by how easily and smoothly it spreads on the teeth and said, “It really doesn’t clump at all.”
“It’s easy to use with wiggly kids and works well with saliva, which is an amazing benefit for pediatric patients,” said Dr. Christina Do. Noting that the “unit dosing is ideal, and the applicator is less scary for children,” hygienist Malee Wong said her patients are “more cooperative and willing to open” when she shows them the small applicator brush and tells them she’s simply painting their teeth.
Although she suggests an easier way to open the package, Fern Rothstein, RDH, said Profisil was “easy to apply and took little time to use,” and Dr. Willem van Opijnen liked the consistency but suggested firmer packaging and including more varnish per application.
Patient Response: Taste & Texture
“The mint and berry flavors were very subtle, and the unflavored option is great for patients who aren’t fond of the flavors we have,” said Gugliotti, whose “patients left their appointments without the sticky feeling of our usual varnish.” Dong “loved that there’s an unflavored choice,” and Raymond-Allbritten said she has “yet to see any other company have an unflavored option that actually tastes like nothing.” Boyd said her patients “liked Profisil’s taste and less sticky consistency.” Similar feedback was offered by pediatric dentist Dr. Tim Fagan, who said, “Some children don’t like the taste of fluoride varnish, but kids enjoyed the taste of Profisil.”
“I love that this varnish is completely clear, texturally smooth, and tasty,” said Wong, who explained that “most patients couldn’t feel textural differences after application, and they reported great taste with the berry and mint.” Since a prophylactic cleaning is not required prior to placing Profi sil, Dr. Jeffrey Moskovic observed that “patients are spared this expense, which typically causes rejection of treatment.”
Sensitivity Relief
The completely clear, mucosa-friendly, ethyl alcohol-free dimethicone formula quickly releases fluoride while providing sensitivity relief. With no colophony (rosin), it reduces the risk of soft-tissue irritation and rosin-based allergies. “Profisil helps remineralize the roots and reduce sensitivity and decay,” said Dong, who works in a periodontal office and sees patients with long exposed roots. “It offers a quick in-office hypersensitivity treatment” for Dr. Moskovic’s patients and, for one of those patients, “sharply reduced” sensitivity caused by moderate toothbrush abrasion after only 2 treatments. Raymond-Allbritten appreciated being able to use it on patients with pine nut allergies.
Overall Satisfaction
“I love the product!” said Boyd, who is more than happy to recommend Profisil to her colleagues and hopes to purchase it in the future. “Patients are more compliant and willing to have the varnish applied more often,” she added, which she said makes it an ideal fluoride treatment option.
