Pediatric Dental Fluoride Varnish Treatment Q&A

Dental fluoride varnish is a treatment that can help prevent tooth decay or prevent it from becoming worse. These treatments have a much higher amount of fluoride than what is found in toothpaste or drinking water. They only take a few minutes to apply. To allow the fluoride to be fully absorbed by the teeth, patients may be asked to avoid eating or drinking for 30 minutes after the treatment. As a fluoride delivery system, varnish is preferred because it is easy to use, it allows more time for fluoride to be exposed to the teeth, and it is safe. A concern with other fluoride delivery systems is that there is an increased risk of ingestion, as well as a decreased amount of contact time that fluoride has with the teeth. Fluoride varnishes use a highly concentrated form of topical fluoride which is applied directly to the teeth in a professionally supervised setting, typically a dentist’s office. Research shows that fluoride varnish is highly effective in reducing the risk of cavities: one study shows a decrease in cavities around 20 percent, while another study shows a reduction greater than 50 percent.

The American Dental Association (ADA) reports that topical fluoride varnishes should be applied every 3 to 6 months for patients at higher risk of developing dental cavities and tooth decay. A dental professional will guide each patient to determine if applications every 3 or every 6 months will work best for their individual situation, which is based on: risk of cavities, re-care frequency, and symptoms of dentin hypersensitivity.

A recommendation put forth by the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) states that fluoride varnishes should be applied to the primary teeth of all infants and children starting at the age of primary tooth eruption (typically around 2 or 3 years old) through the age of 5 years. The recommended frequency for dental fluoride varnishes of children in this age group is every 3 to 6 months, based on the child’s risk of cavities. Fluoride varnish application is easy and fast.

There are several benefits that fluoride varnishes provide, including:

• Restoring minerals to tooth surfaces where bacteria eroded enamel
• Inhibits the growth of harmful oral bacteria
• Stops decay from penetrating deeper parts of teeth
• Helps improve oral health in both children and adults
• Decreases the chance of tooth decay or cavities

If you want to help your children improve their oral health, come to Pediatric Associates of Frisco, TX today. Our kind and compassionate pediatricians are experienced in administering dental fluoride varnishes and can help your children reduce their risk of cavities and tooth decay. Contact us today to book an appointment, or visit our clinic conveniently located at 9191 Kyser Way, Suite 500, Frisco, TX 75033. Our clinic is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM and on Saturday from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM. We serve patients from Frisco TX, Little Elm TX, The Colony TX, McKinney TX, Prosper TX, Aubrey TX, Oak Point TX, Lakewood Village TX, Plano TX, and Dallas TX. Looking forward to serve you!