That is an authentic weblog submit from Dr. Gupreet Sidhu, D.D.S., Langley, BC
Haley got here to me three years in the past and mentioned she had a terrific lunch the place she discovered a few new Fluoride varnish she had an opportunity to attempt from Oral Science. It was totally different in its common make-up as a result of it didn’t have the cheesy really feel most varnishes have. As much as that time, we had been principally utilizing a conventional PCxx thixotropic 1.23% APF gel. Typically, sufferers have been okay with it, however we at all times had a good variety of sufferers who declined fluoride due to style issues, upset stomachs, not with the ability to eat for half-hour afterward, and even simply common discomfort with the process. It was at all times one thing I used to be conscious of on the workplace (Lighthouse Dental Centre), however from the time I used to be in dental college, this was nonetheless thought of the popular technique of Fluoride utility.
From a time-efficiency perspective, I’ve at all times felt gel fluoride hasn’t been one of the best product for a number of causes:
- Your complete course of takes about 4-5 minutes by the point you sit up the affected person, select the correct trays, load the gel, and permit the affected person to expectorate for 30-60 seconds afterwards.
- When working a busy observe, if I’m coming in for an examination, and it’s the beginning of the Fluoride utility, then I’m ready, and consequently, my different affected person is ready for me to return as properly.
- The hygienist often solely has 60 minutes to overview the affected person’s medical historical past, probe enamel, take X-rays, full the cleansing, prophy, floss, look forward to the examination, clear the room, and arrange for the subsequent affected person. Each minute counts.
We used a number of varnishes, however the varnish we predominantly used was a 3M product known as Vanish. We typically would use this on sufferers that declined the gel or had a excessive incidence of cavities. Vanish is available in a Unidose package deal, which inherently will increase the CPP (Price per affected person), however it does have some nice properties like a 24-hour Fluoride launch time, simple utility, and no must dry the enamel. It additionally labored nice with sensitivity alongside the gum line, however nearly all sufferers would touch upon how the enamel didn’t really feel “clear” afterward due to the tackiness brought on by the pine tree sap ingredient often known as colophony or rosin.
I say all of the above to say this: My hygienists and I’ve been searching for a product with all of the optimistic attributes I’ve talked about with out the drawbacks that retract from the affected person expertise.
Then, alongside got here Fluorimax.
Oral Science does a terrific job explaining what Colophony-free means by way of product thickness, however in our real-world utility, what it actually means is a significantly better affected person expertise. The food-grade shellac permits the appliance to be very skinny and just about invisible. We use this product on 100% of our sufferers, and thru the hundreds of hygiene sufferers we’ve seen, not a single affected person has complained or has not been in a position to tolerate the Fluoride utility.
Like Vanish, the Shellac works properly for hypersensitivity, and we’ve got had nice success with utilizing it earlier than an ultrasonic cleansing to lower sensitivity and discomfort throughout instrumentation.
By way of the time it takes to use, the CDA and hygienist can apply the fluoride in beneath a minute, making it rather more environment friendly for the observe. Due to the thinness, I can do an examination any time earlier than or after the appliance.
We typically use two flavours: mint and bubble gum. As anticipated, the youngsters love bubble gum, and most adults desire mint. Instead, a caramel flavour can also be obtainable. Alongside the best way, we definitely discovered it’s essential to observe instructions and shake the bottle for 15 seconds earlier than meting out the Fluoride to stop settling. If we don’t try this, sufferers will discover an acidic style from the appliance, however as soon as the Fluoride is correctly combined, it’s fairly nice for the affected person. They actually love the truth that they’ll eat and brush recurrently after the appointment. Dental professionals all have these sufferers who get so hungry within the chair, and so they wish to get out to seize a snack instantly!
Regarding value with 585 drops in a single bottle, it’s extremely cost-effective, and it decreases the related hygiene overhead. Every affected person is barely totally different, so we are able to dial in how a lot varnish we wish to dispense per affected person.
I not too long ago took over a second dental workplace (Blue Water Dental) that has a longtime affected person base of over 40 years. Each hygienists have been practising for many years, and so they love this product a lot it took solely someday of utility to comprehend that this was going to be the way forward for our hygiene program. With it being extra comfy, it has undoubtedly enhanced affected person compliance.
Quite a few occasions, we had sufferers who at all times denied Fluoride utility, who are actually transformed to Fluoride customers after we’ve satisfied them to attempt Fluorimax. It really is totally different than something available on the market.
One in all my favorite quotes, “None of us are smarter than all of us,” is a precept that has helped our enterprise develop. By listening to others who’ve been on an identical path in progress and growth, we’ve been in a position to evolve. I approached Oral science to offer my genuine suggestions on their product to achieve a broader viewers to hopefully assist different dentists and observe homeowners improve their providers for his or her sufferers and enhance effectivity and profitability.
