History and Background of Fluoride Varnish - Article Example

 History and Background of Fluoride Varnish Abstract The fluoride varnish is a recognized material of dental application to be able to give attention to different conditions that can be considered problematic to the dental field. The review undertaken presents the efficacy of fluoride varnish to prevent and give attention to cases of dental caries, lesions, demineralization and detrimental effects of materials used in orthodontic treatments. Based on the studies and empirical data included, fluoride varnish is an effective and cost-effective method recognized specifically in the contemporary dental field which is attributed to the fact that the data gathered cover the 5 recent years of research related to the method. One common factor in the data gathered is the sample population which is composed mostly children on the basis of the fact that the application of fluoride containing products or treatment can be considered effective in the said age group. Introduction Fluoride varnish is a substance most specifically referred to as lacquer that is composed of 5% sodium fluoride that combined in a colophony or resin base which is used and applied on teeth to provide an immediate need for fluoride on the tooth surface. Compared to other fluoride containing products the said substance is more effective but is needed to be applied by professionals (Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors Fluorides Committee, 2007). There are different issues that can be considered essentially related to the application and use of fluoride varnish such as the components, the mechanism of action and the efficacy of the use. These concepts can be considered associated to the objective of the review undertaken which is the presentation of the history and background of the use of fluoride varnish. To be able to present the use of fluoride varnish in the dental field, an assimilation of empirical studies of the different functions from the onset of application and recognition of the treatment is included. This is to be able to view the inquiry specifically regarding the efficacy and effect of the application of fluoride varnish in dental field. Review of Related Literature The applications of fluoride varnish for different ages in varying dental problems and ailments are included in the review undertaken. Included in the said dental problems being targeted by the application of fluoride varnish are caries, demineralization etc. One of the recognized uses of fluoride is presented in the study regarding the application of fluoride varnish as a public health measure against caries. Through a cluster randomized controlled trial or RCT, fluoride varnished had been applied bi-annually specifically 5 applications in 26 months in a population of children, 6-8 years old, in deprived areas. Results of the study based on indicators such as decay, missing and filled teeth in both primary and permanent dentitions indicated that the said measure cannot be sufficient in the reduction of caries to improve public dental health (Rodgers, 2008). In Swedish schools, the efficacy of fluoride programs to counteract caries in adolescents in ages 13-16 years. Based on the initial 854 children that had been treated with fluoride varnish, there is a significant prevention of development of caries as compared to the group which is not treated. The most significant difference had been observed in the caries high-risk area. The said study resulted in the conclusion that school is an important place to improve the dental health of children. In addition, one of the final results indicated that the treatment of fluoride varnish twice a year on a regular interval resulted to positive results specifically in the high risk age and area (Sköld, 2005). Other research groups even agreed in the efficacy of the application of fluoride varnish at the right age, period and mode of application. Included in the said study is presented by Weintraub et al. who focused on use of fluoride varnish in the prevention of caries (2006). Another specific problem in dental health is the white lesion. The said problem can be considered related to the cases of orthodontic treatments. A group of 10 orthodontic patients were given different treatments in a particular quadrant of the mouth specifically maxillary left and right and mandibular left and right. Through a double-blinded set-up and a quarterly treatment of the fluoride varnish. The said study resulted in 44.3% less demineralization of teeth upon application of fluoride varnish compared to the control set-up (Vivaldi-Rodrigues, Demito, Bowman and Ramos, 2006). In adolescents with fixed orthodontic appliances, resulted in the advice to advocate the use to avoid effects on the teeth specifically those adjacent to the bracket base. The said results had been achieved through a double-blinded randomized empirical data gathering similar to that of Vivaldi-Rodrigues et al. The said study through can be considered of higher population size (273 patients) aged 12-15 years. The main results have been measured as 7.4% progression of white lesion to the patients treated with fluoride varnish as compared to 25.3% for the placebo group, thus, indicating a difference of 18% (Stecksén-Blicks, Renfors, Oscarson, Bergstrand and Twetman, 2007). A related study a year later had been undertaken by Shafi regarding the reduction of white spot lesion through application of fluoride varnish (2008). Results had been gathered through a randomized controlled trial set up in a community dental practice by the use of a commercial fluoride varnish (Fluor Protector). The results that had been gathered confirms the study undertaken by Stecksén-Blicks et al. a year before having 7.4% development of WSL as compared to the 25.3% in the placebo group (Shafi, 2008). In relation to the prevention of demineralization in areas of the tooth adjacent to the brackets of orthodontic appliances, it had been observed that the application of fluoride varnish avoid the development of a dental condition that contributes to mineral loss in the enamel. One of the observed indications in teeth is the calcium and fluoride binging in enamel of patients due to application of fluoride varnish. Based on the said result then, it had been considered as another affirmation of the role of the said fluoride treatment to prevent demineralization (Gontijo, Cruz Rde and Brandão, 2007). The said results can also be considered similar to the empirical study undertaken by Farhadian, Miresmaeili, Eslami and Mehrabi which is undertaken in-vivo (2008). Basically, through the course of history of the application of fluoride varnish, it can be considered that the substance is increasingly recognized. During the early introduction of the fluoride varnish, as represented by studied that are excluded in the review undertaken, it can be observed that acceptability of the use of fluoride varnish in different dental problems is significantly low. To be able to compare the use of other dental methods to attend to dental issues, the study regarding the comparative efficacy of pit and fissure sealants with fluoride vanishes had been included. The systematic review revealed that on the basis of prior research, the conventional application of pit and fissure sealants are more recognized and favored. It has been presented that a continuous research and study of fluoride varnishes is required (Hiiri, Ahovuo-Saloranta, Nordblad and Mäkelä, 2006). In terms of the effects of fluoride varnish to the color stability of esthetic restorative materials, an experimental set-up had been used by Autio-Gold and Barrett (2004). The results confirmed an evident color change in the materials. Thus, fluoride treatment can change the color of the esthetic restorative materials for dental applications but in an acceptable extent based on the clinical standards (Autio-Gold and Barrett, 2004). Lastly, issued regarding cost-effectiveness of fluoride varnish had been given attention on the basis of published probabilities and costs. The values analyzed are based on results of prior studies namely: effectiveness of fluoride varnish as 35.4%; applied according to the well-child periodicity schedule with annual caries increment of 14 % at $16.00 per application for every application up to 3 years of age, age-specific dental care usage rates at 0.2% at 9 months to 19% at 42 months, and age-related non-hospital treatment costs which is approximately $292.00-$503.00 as well as hospital treatment costs at $2191.00-$2940.00. Results showed that cavity-free months with value of 1.52 can be achieved at $7.18 per month while a cost of $203 can be prevented due to lack of treatment. Based on the said empirical analysis, the reduction can be considered cost-effective but can be viewed to still be a challenge for the low-income population specifically since it is considered most effective in the first 42 months of life (Quiñonez, Stearns, Talekar, Rozier and Downs, 2006). Conclusion The study had been undertaken to be able to present a view of the history and background of the use and application of fluoride varnish. The main focus of the literature review conducted is related to the efficacy of use. Based on the results of the empirical studies included in the review it can be considered that the application of the said intervention is recognized specifically on the clinical-based scenario wherein a professional applies the fluoride varnish. The review presented empirical data on the positive effects of fluoride varnish on dental conditions such as dental caries, white spot lesions and demineralization in both dental and orthodontic cases. In addition, a comparative analysis of the said method with other conventional methods revealed a promising yet a result needed to be further studied in depth. Due to the importance of the economic aspect, the cost-effectiveness had also been analyzed. On the basis of the gathered results, it can be considered that the application of the fluoride varnish in dental procedures contributes positively. Although continuous study and exploration of addition functions can be considered important to be able to prevent comparison with conventional methods, the continuous improvement in terms of acceptability suggests that negative effects had been described in empirical data that are earlier that the five year period covered by the study included. References Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors Fluorides Committee (2007). Fluoride Varnish: An Evidence-Based Approach Research Brief. Journal of the American Dental Association, 137: 1151-9. Retrieved October 26, 2008 from http://www.astdd.org/docs/FluorideVarnishPaperASTDDSept2007.pdf Autio-Gold, J. T. and Barrett, A. A. (2004). Effect of fluoride varnishes on color stability of esthetic restorative materials. Oper Dent., 29(6): 636-41. Farhadian, N., Miresmaeili, A., Eslami, B. and Mehrabi, S. (2008). Effect of fluoride varnish on enamel demineralization around brackets: an in-vivo study. Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop, 133(4 Suppl): S95-8. Gontijo, L., Cruz Rde, A. and Brandão, P. R. (2007). Dental enamel around fixed orthodontic appliances after fluoride varnish application. Braz Dent J., 18(1): 49-53. Hiiri, A., Ahovuo-Saloranta, A., Nordblad, A. and Mäkelä, M. (2006). Pit and fissure sealants versus fluoride varnishes for preventing dental decay in children and adolescents. Cochrane Database Syst Rev., 18;(4): CD003067. Quiñonez, R. B., Stearns, S. C., Talekar, B. S., Rozier, R. G. and Downs, S. M. (2006). Simulating cost-effectiveness of fluoride varnish during well-child visits for Medicaid-enrolled children. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med., 160(2): 164-70. Rodgers, J. (2008). Fluoride varnish as a public health measure to reduce caries. Evid Based Dent, 9(1): 9-10. Shafi, I. (2008). Fluoride varnish reduces white spot lesions during orthodontic treatment. Evid Based Dent, 2008 9(3): 81. Sköld, U. M. (2005). On caries prevalence and school-based fluoride programmes in Swedish adolescents. Swed Dent J Suppl., 178: 11-75. Stecksén-Blicks, C., Renfors, G., Oscarson, N. D., Bergstrand, F. and Twetman, S. (2007). Caries-preventive effectiveness of a fluoride varnish: a randomized controlled trial in adolescents with fixed orthodontic appliances. Caries Res, 41(6):455-9. Vivaldi-Rodrigues, G., Demito, C. F., Bowman, S. J. and Ramos, A. L. (2006). The effectiveness of a fluoride varnish in preventing the development of white spot lesions. World J Orthod, 7(2): 138-44. Weintraub, J. A., Ramos-Gomez, F., Jue, B., Shain, S. et al. (2006). Fluoride Varnish Efficacy in Preventing Early Childhood Caries. Journal of Dental Research, 85(2): 172-76. Read More