Is there any benefit to 'Flouride Varnishing'?

[bigmouthstrikesagain]

I have been offered an appointment (through local sure start play group), for dd2 aged 3 to have her teeth varnished with flouride by a dentist. I am a little unsure about the necessity as we already live in an area where the water is flouridated and we use flouride toothpaste twice a day. Is it really necessary? I have never heard of the process before today and my older children were not offered it.

Is this common now?

It's now govt. policy to offer flouride varnishing to all children - although it's still not offered in all areas.

My children were both given it (the dentist just told me he was doing it) but they hated it and spat it out all the way home and cried through the street because it tastes gross.

I think it's perhaps just a way of making sure that kidns who don't look after their teeth properly get a bit of extra help; although saying that, they're the kids who quite probably don't get taken to the dentist

I know someone who had it put on inexpertly and teeth were not cleaned thoroughly when varnish applied - cue rotting teeth underneath the varnish and long-term decay problems. That said, done correctly it can be a huge benefit for long term strong teeth.

I'm watching this with interest as there is a big drive in my area. However my DP has very badly stained teeth due to this procedure when he was wee causing fluoridosis (sp!?) and I don't want the same to happen to DD.

Oh yes - forgot the decay bit - I read that too. Doesn't sound desirable!

When I was little I had something called fissure sealant put on my molars (not sure if this is the same thing).

Never had any fillings in them . I've always brushed though and never been into excessive sweets / fizzy drinks.

I'm watching with interest too as we have an appointment in a few weeks and the dentist wants to repeat this procedure. DD1 who is 15 is point blank refusing but all 3 DDs hate it. I thought I was doing a good thing by going along with it.

Any dentists out there who can confirm if it's necessary or not? And if there are risks involved as other posters have highlighted?

My DHs cousin is a dental nurse and she said it's a waste of time pretty much as some dentists don't do it properly and the whole decay thing.

Fissure Sealant is not the same as the varnish.

Fluoride varnish applied twice a year by a dentist/hygienist results in 66% less decay experience. Decay underneath has absolutely no impact on this procedure, unlike fissure sealing which isn't generally done on top of decay.

It's an effective public health measure and won't cause fluorosis (mottling) which is cause by long term high fluoride levels.

loopy DH's cousin is with respect, talking rubbish. There is a sound evidence base and the varnish is pretty much fool proof to apply.

Grumpy,
What about fissure sealing. Is it any good? Do they only do it on molars?

My DS (4) has white spots on his 2nd teeth, and the dentist says it is probably as a result of serious infection when he was tiny. He says he may have weak teeth for the rest of his life.

My DSs 1, 2 and 3 have had it done in nursery by a visiting NHS dental nurse. They have no tooth problems, but also go to the dentist regularly and brush their teeth, have no fizzy drinks etc etc yadda yadda .

DS2 had the white spots on his baby incisors, it was explained to me it was a defect in the enamel of the tooth, likely to do with his prematurity and the cause of his prematurity.
He is now 8 and has flawless adult incisors - his smile is like this -> .
HTH.

Fissure sealing helps to prevent decay on the biting surface of back teeth & any pits/folds in front teeth (almost exclusively premolars & molars though). Done well they are excellent but they won't prevent decay between the teeth (which Fluoride will).

It's usually recommended to fissure seal the permanent molars of any children who have needed fillings due to decay in baby teeth.

Anyone who has a moderate or high caries rate (adults too) should have the fluoride varnish IMHO. Fissure sealants in children are generally a good idea.

Is it possible that the quantities of fluoride used have changed. DPs dentist did say it was the fluoride varnishing wot done it, and we don't live in an area where fluoride is added to the water.

It's possible I would imagine. I think fluoride drops used to be very popular. Could have been those maybe?

If you require any advice/information about fluoride varnish I would highly recommend that you google "Childsmile" and you will find everything you need to know about fluoride varnish and looking after your kids teeth.

I am a qualified dentist and have worked in the NHS for over 20 years.

Childsmile is a Scottish initiative I think although my kids don't seem to get the fluoride varnishing done. They have had fissure sealants done on their molars though

2 of my DC have asthma so they aren't allowed to have the varnishing apparently.

What is the issue with asthma & the varnishing? DS age 10 has very recently been diagnosed with asthma, but does have the varnishing every 3 months...should I query this?

My child has it on one tooth every 6 months. I think it's good so far. She's 10 in September and has no cavities or fillings so far x

My 18 year old has learning difficulties and has the varnish applied on hygiene visits. She is very resistant to teeth cleaning and has over crowded teeth. We do clean to our best abilities which is a struggle and she has 2 fillings but I do think the varnish has helped.

I had this all through my childhood, and also fissure seals. I've never had a filling or a tooth out. I was wondering when my kids would be offered the fluoride. They are 3 and 4.

I took them to the dentist not long back and he never mentioned it. Do I need to ask for it? Is provision different in some areas? I'm in London.

The most common fluoride varnish in use contains colophony, which is a known trigger for asthma.
There are other varnishes but they don't stick as well to teeth unfortunately.

Fluoride is a neuro toxin. We were told not to use any fluoride with our under 2 and then only low amounts after. There is a reason you spit it out. Crazy imo to then paint it on unless there is a really good reason.

I've asked my dentist to do this on the dcs teeth and she refused. She said they didn't need it, had strong teeth and it's not for them.

I really wanted it done, I will ask again at our next appointment.

Marsquared I am not sure if you are in the UK but if so, that advice you were given re under 2yrs is very poor.
In the UK, dentists, therapists, hygienists & oral health qualified dental nurses, are guided by the government document "Delivering Better Oral Health", which is obviously evidence based.