• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • English
  • Français
  • Español
  • Log in
  • Latest
  • Contact

The Alliance for a Cavity-Free Future HomepageThe Alliance for a Cavity-Free Future

Stop Caries NOW for a Cavity-Free Future

  • About Us
    • The ACFF Story
    • ACFF Mission
    • ACFF Global Team
    • Partners
  • Chapters
    • Chapter Map
    • Chapter Spotlight
    • Australia/New Zealand
    • Canada/US
    • Francophone
    • Japan
    • North Africa
    • Pan-Europe
    • Poland
  • WCFFDay
    • About World Cavity-Free Future Day
    • How Can I Get Involved?
    • Resources for Families
    • WCFF Day 2020
  • Policy
  • Resources
    • ICCMS™ and CariesCare International
    • Cariology Curricula
    • Reference Materials
      • Atraumatic Restorative Therapy
      • Dietary Counselling
      • Fluoride Gels
      • Fluoride Mouth Rinse
      • Fluoride Supplements
      • Fluoride Toothpaste
      • Fluoride Varnish
      • High Fluoride Toothpastes
      • Milk Fluoridation
      • Minimally Invasive Dentistry
      • Patient Education (Individual Level)
      • Pit and Fissure Sealants
      • Risk Assessment
      • Salt Fluoridation
      • Silver Diamine Fluoride
      • Water Fluoridation
    • For Patients
    • Students
  • Join Us
Home » Resources for Professionals » Reference Materials » Fluoride Varnish

Fluoride Varnish


Overview

Fluoride varnish (FV) is resin-based product that contains 2.26% fluoride (22,600 ppm F) from 5% sodium fluoride (NaF) in an alcoholic solution of natural tree resin. The FV adheres strongly to teeth, allowing a prolonged fluoride contact and interaction with hard tissues of teeth over time [1]. Fluoride is slowly released and helps to prevent mineral loss from teeth and enhances remineralisation, to reverse or slow down progression of early carious lesions.

Use and Application

FV treatments are carried out by a dental professional after thorough cleaning and drying. The varnish is topically applied with a small brush, probe or applicator in a thin layer on high risk  tooth surfaces, such as occlusal fissures, between teeth (proximal surfaces) or exposed root surfaces. FV can also be applied directly on early caries lesions to arrest or re-mineralize the surface. The varnish should dry and set for one minute. Patients should be instructed to avoid eating, drinking and tooth cleaning for a few hours after application. Moderate-risk patients should receive FV at 6-month intervals whereas high-risk groups should get FV applied at 3-month intervals [2].

Effectiveness and Efficacy

A Cochrane systematic review has shown that FV provides caries protection at 43% in young permanent teeth and 37% in primary teeth [3]. There is evidence showing that FV is effective for arresting or reversing non-cavitated lesions and it may reverse root caries in the elderly [4, 5].

Safety

FV is the only high-fluoride product that is suitable for children under 6 years. The average amount of FV used in one application for a child is around 0.3-0.5 mL, which will deliver around 6.8-11.3 mg F in the oral cavity. This dose is far below the probably toxic dose.

Cost Effectiveness

The cost of FV varies widely between providers and suppliers. The costs for FV programs have been reported to be lower than fissure sealants programs. FV applied in the clinical setting is unlikely to be cost-effective in low-risk populations but clearly more favourable in medium and high-risk patients.

Recommendations

FV for prevention and non-restorative management of caries lesions is endorsed by the WHO and many professional organisations worldwide [2,4]. Target populations are communities with low socio-economy and low health literacy, high risk individuals and patients with active caries disease. The current recommendations suggest that FV should be topically applied by dental professionals 2-4 times per year. Use of FV is safe and suitable for all age groups.


Key Further Reading

1- Fluoride and Oral Health.

O’Mullane DM, Baez RJ, Jones S, Lennon MA, Petersen PE, Rugg-Gunn AJ, Whelton H, Whitford GM. Fluoride and Oral Health. Community Dent Health. 2016;33:69-99.

Access

2- WHO Global Consultation on Public Health Intervention against Early Childhood Caries

Phantumvanit P, Makino Y, Ogawa H, Rugg-Gunn A, Moynihan P, Petersen PE, Evans W, Feldens CA, Lo E, Khoshnevisan MH, Baez R, Varenne B, Vichayanrat T, Songpaisan Y, Woodward M, Nakornchai S, Ungchusak C. WHO Global Consultation on Public Health Intervention against Early Childhood Caries. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol. 2018;46:280-87.

Access

3- Fluoride varnishes for preventing dental caries in children and adolescents.

Marinho VC, Worthington HV, Walsh T, Clarkson JE. Fluoride varnishes for preventing dental caries in children and adolescents. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013 Jul 11;(7):CD002279.

Access

4- Non-restorative Treatments for Caries: Systematic Review and Network Meta-analysis.

Urquhart O, Tampi MP, Pilcher L, Slayton RL, Araujo MWB, Fontana M, Guzmán-Armstrong S, Nascimento MM, Nový BB, Tinanoff N, Weyant RJ, Wolff MS, Young DA, Zero DT, Brignardello-Petersen R, Banfield L, Parikh A, Joshi G, Carrasco-Labra A. Non-restorative Treatments for Caries: Systematic Review and Network Meta-analysis. J Dent Res. 2019;98:14-26.

Access

5- Prevention of root caries: a literature review of primary and secondary preventive agents.

Gluzman R, Katz RV, Frey BJ, McGowan R. Prevention of root caries: a literature review of primary and secondary preventive agents. Spec Care Dentist. 2013;33:133-40.

Access

Guidance Document

ACFF Members can download the full reference document for Fluoride Varnish.

Access

Primary Sidebar

Guidance Documents

  • Atraumatic Restorative Therapy
  • Dietary Counselling
  • Fluoride Gels
  • Fluoride Mouth Rinse
  • Fluoride Supplements
  • Fluoride Toothpaste
  • Fluoride Varnish
  • High Fluoride Toothpastes
  • Milk Fluoridation
  • Minimally Invasive Dentistry
  • Pit and Fissure Sealants
  • Risk Assessment
  • Salt Fluoridation
  • Silver Diamine Fluoride
  • Water Fluoridation

Footer

Contact us

Phone: +44 207 848 8481

Standard office hours are 09:00-17:00 GMT Monday to Friday. We observe UK holidays.

Email: admin@acffglobal.org

Global Office: The Alliance for a Cavity-Free Future, Floor 17, Tower Wing, Guy’s Hospital, London, SE1 9RT, United Kingdom

Privacy

Terms & Conditions

Membership Terms

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

The Alliance for a Cavity-Free Future

14 City Quay, Dundee, Scotland, DD1 3JA.
The Alliance for a Cavity-Free Future is a company limited by guarantee registered in Scotland (SC439115) and registered as a charity (SC044174).
©2021 Alliance for a Cavity-Free Future

  • English
    • Français
    • Español
We use cookies on this site to enhance your user experience. By clicking any link on this page your are giving your consent for us to set cookies.OkPrivacy policy