24.1 C
Kuala Lumpur
Monday, February 2, 2026

Oral Science Professional — Oral Science


Not too long ago, a member of our group, Martha Szczepulski (additionally RDH), met with Steve Pardue, Managing Member at Elevate Oral Care, the corporate behind the event of FluoriMax (2.5% Sodium Fluoride Varnish) and Benefit Arrest (Silver Diamine Fluoride).

Here’s a abstract of their dialogue. We hope this may make it easier to combine these extremely efficient in-offices caries administration therapies.

FLUORIMAX

Why is there solely 2.5% NaF in FluoriMax?

Research going again to the Nineties present that even in a colophony, the fluoride uptake (bioavailability) could be very related between 2.5 and 5% formulations. Due to this fact, it’s best to make use of the bottom proportion that produces efficient outcomes. (1)

 

How a lot hydroxyapatite is in FluoriMax?

3%. It’s a supply of calcium and phosphate. Nonetheless, at this proportion there isn’t any actual profit to a traditional mouth, and perhaps a miniscule profit to a affected person with xerostomia. True profit is from the sodium fluoride.

 

How lengthy does FluoriMax stay within the oral cavity?

It stays till it’s eliminated.

Roughly 90% of the uptake is inside the first 4 hours, the following 24 hours as much as 10%.

That is secure as a result of small portions being utilized. 1 drop = 0.1mL, so a beneficiant 3 drop dose can be 0.3mL.

In a research by Dr Beltran, printed in JADA in 2000, the blood plasma ranges of fluoride after FluoriMax utility have been lower than an everyday toothpaste utility. (2)

 

What’s dewaxed meals grade shellac?

Shellac is a pure product that’s produced from a resinous secretion discovered on bushes, made by a bunch of bugs known as Kerria lacca. The secretion, known as lac, is refined into meals grade shellac, amongst different shellac merchandise.

You’ll have seen shellac because the shiny coating on an Advil or a Chicklet. 

 

The place ought to I apply FluoriMax?

The advice is to use to the buccal surfaces in a skinny layer the place it acts as a reservoir. This reservoir works greatest as a skinny layer. A thick layer is much less bioavailable and is extra more likely to slough off and be swallowed. A skinny layer is extra snug and extra bioavailable.

FluoriMax may be utilized on a lesion or close to a lesion – the fluoride ions might be transported through saliva into the lesion regardless.

For optimum uptake, particularly in sufferers with xerostomia, be sure to use to tooth in shut proximity to the submandibular glands (buccal and lingual sextant 5). This saliva is extra liquid and facilitates fluoride ion transportation. Close to the parotid glands can be good, however this saliva is usually extra ropey and doesn’t facilitate transport in addition to the extra liquid saliva from the submandibular glands.

In extreme xerostomia, sipping a glass of water over the hour after the appliance would assist enhance fluoride uptake – this would offer the required water to assist in fluoride ion transportation.

 

Is there a distinction within the particle measurement of FluoriMax fluoride?

Sure. Standard fluoride particles are within the vary of 150 microns (except the producer mills them first). FluoriMax has micronized particles – the fluoride particles are milled and sifted to fifteen microns and smaller. That is achieved for 2 causes. With smaller particles there may be extra floor space, so subsequently larger bioavailability. Secondly, smaller particles keep in suspension longer (though it’s at all times really helpful to shake the bottle earlier than utility to attain a fair distribution of particles in suspension earlier than shelling out)

 

Are there any substances that sufferers might have an antagonistic impact to within the FluoriMax?

To our data no. Some folks declare a response to shellac, however this has not been substantiated by scientific literature.

 

What are excessive depth therapies with FluoriMax?

These are 3 purposes in 5-7 days. This has been achieved in outreach work in different nations to maximise mineralization in a brief time period publicity with no followup accessible.

 

What are suggestions for getting one of the best out of the product utility and preserving the bottle clear?

At all times shake the bottle 10-15 seconds – lower than that and chances are you’ll not get the optimum suspension and consistency. FluoriMax is runnier than typical colophony varnish and that may be a good factor as a result of it spreads very skinny and requires much less product.

At all times dispense with the bottle vertical. If the applicator tip will get sticky, wipe off extra with alcohol. If the dispenser is de facto clogged, you possibly can take away the cap and rinse with water. If the orifice is plugged, you possibly can open it with a pin. You can too ask for extra shelling out caps from Oral Science. 

 

ADVANTAGE ARREST

Ought to I apply FluoriMax after making use of Benefit Arrest?

There are two methods to use Benefit Arrest. You may apply and permit to air dry for 60 sec. Or you possibly can apply and instantly place a layer of FluoriMax over the AA to seal it in and permit for max penetration. The second measure is greatest to make use of in conditions of low affected person compliance. It should additionally make the aftertaste much less metallic. 

It’s unknown whether it is superior to use FluoriMax over Benefit Arrest however it could enhance arrest charge.

 

Is Benefit Arrest secure for comfortable tissues (subg and sophistication V purposes)?

Benefit Arrest has a pH of 10 which suggests it isn’t caustic to sound comfortable tissues. It should dry and blanche tissue briefly, however this isn’t dangerous or painful. 

Benefit Arrest will trigger irritation in wounded tissue. It isn’t dangerous however may be delicate. Utility of Benefit Arrest will not be really helpful in a case of ulcerative gingivitis if the appliance would contact comfortable tissue.

 

What about inserting Benefit Arrest in deep lesions?

Benefit Arrest will penetrate 2-2.5mm into tooth construction – penetration varies in every tooth and lesion.

Benefit Arrest may be utilized in all carious lesions as much as and together with oblique pulp capping. Direct pulp cap is contraindicated. If there isn’t any proof of pulpal involvement or publicity (similar to drainage or fistulas), Benefit Arrest may be utilized. When it’s positioned close to pulp, it would encourage pulp to shrink. Silver can go into the pulp in oblique pulp cap, however this isn’t detrimental to the pulp or tooth. 

 

What occurs after I use Benefit Arrest then instantly place a glass ionomer restorative cement?

If you happen to apply Benefit Arrest and wish to do a direct GI placement:

Apply it as regular, then rinse and dry (don’t dessicate). You may place the GI however some silver might be drawn into the GI, so staining of the GI will happen. That is solely an esthetic concern. It doesn’t lower the bond power. For optimum bond power, a polyacrylic acid could also be utilized both earlier than or after the Benefit Arrest (then rinse and dry, don’t dessicate) for max bond power. If utilizing polyacrylic acid step, chances are you’ll discover a slight foam on utility of the acid and that is regular.

 

Tips on how to keep away from GI staining with direct placement of GI (no tooth construction polish or removing)?

To keep away from staining, it’s a two-appointment course of. On first day, apply Benefit Arrest as regular. After 24-72 hours (longer is healthier), place the GI restorative as traditional. This method known as the two day SMART (Silver Modified Atraumatic Resin Approach).

 

Tips on how to keep away from staining with mild remedy merchandise?

Please notice: Mild curing will “activate” stain of all Benefit Arrest, whether or not it’s on sound or decayed tooth construction. Useful methods to keep away from staining are:

After placement of Benefit Arrest, do a 2-3 second mild remedy to watch if Benefit Arrest has stained an esthetic space, then polish that away. Then you possibly can proceed with restoration. A number of extra issues to contemplate:

  • An opaque GI or resin base can be utilized on the base of the restoration to masks gray tooth construction. Translucent composite might present extra gray by means of it. 
  • In bonding programs known as “Self etch” the place the etch, prime and bond are in a single bottle, the bond is weaker than in non self etch programs. There may be nonetheless bond power however chances are you’ll not wish to use this in excessive compression areas, and so on.

 

How incessantly ought to Benefit Arrest be utilized?

Contemplate your affected person habits and assess the hardness of the lesion.

Sufferers with poor oral hygiene and excessive consumption of cariogenic meals might have indefinite reapplication of Benefit Arrest each 3-6 months.

Sufferers with good oral hygiene and low to average consumption of cariogenic meals ought to have no less than two purposes. Then reassess the lesion and contemplate making use of each 6 months or yearly to take care of arrest.

 

How a lot of the lesion is arrested with the appliance?

The primary utility can arrest 70-75% of the lesion. The second utility can arrest 90-95% of the lesion. (2016 research)

 

Do that you must rinse or not rinse after Benefit Arrest placement?

Both is ok. If no rinse, chances are you’ll wish to blot web site after placement to soak up extra SDF (to attenuate style)

  

“I heard RivaStar doesn’t stain. Why ought to I exploit Benefit Arrest?”

Details about RivaStar vs Benefit Arrest:

RivaStar has a pH of 13 – it’s caustic to comfortable tissues and shouldn’t contact comfortable tissue. AA has a pH of 10, which isn’t caustic. It could briefly dry and blanche tissue however it isn’t dangerous to the tissue. 

RivaStar price per utility is 2-3 instances that of Benefit Arrest. 

RivaStar is marketed for use beneath GI class I restorations. On this utility, it is not going to stain as a result of it’s primarily sealed in and the product was simply positioned on the ground of the restoration. Nonetheless, if SDF and KI are used alone, or the margins of the restoration include SDF and KI, the KI will cut back and decelerate the staining, nevertheless it doesn’t inhibit the staining. The staining will possible present up inside a month. 

Lastly, when SDF stands alone, it’s a very efficient caries inhibition agent. When SDF and KI are mixed, there may be an virtually half lower in effectivity. Caries inhibition is considerably much less within the presence of SDF and KI mixed. (3)

 

My conclusion

FluoriMax supplies the identical safety as a standard varnish, however with a number of main benefits: Elevated bioavailability, which suggests decrease proportion of fluoride is required. The appliance is simple, product is skinny and nice, and sufferers can eat and drink instantly. Sufferers which have beforehand mentioned “no” to varnish love FluoriMax.

Benefit Arrest is a minimally invasive intervention that’s broadly utilized in pediatric and geriatric care. Whereas you will need to inform sufferers and caregivers in regards to the lesion altering colour, I discover affected person acceptance is excessive.  Many caregivers of weak sufferers and other people with monetary limitations are relieved when they’re given an inexpensive, non-invasive possibility that may arrest decay.

For dental hygienists which are inserting GIs, most restorations with SDF plus KI will inevitably flip darkish, no less than across the edges. Utilizing SDF with KI alone will flip darkish over time, and the caries arrest properties are considerably diminished within the presence of KI. And lastly, any lesions which are subg or on the gingival margin can’t be sufficiently remoted for comfortable tissue safety. You might have to cost extra for SDF and KI to get well product price. 

 

References

1. Seppä L, Results of sodium fluoride concentrations on enamel remineralization in vitro. Scand J Dent Res 1988;96:304-309.

2. Beltrán-Aguilar ED, Goldstein JW, Lockwood SA. Fluoride varnishes. A evaluate of their scientific use, cariostatic mechanism, efficacy and security. J Am Dent Assoc. 2000 Could;131(5):589-96. doi: 10.14219/jada.archive.2000.0232. PMID: 10832252.

3. Zhao IS, Mei ML, Burrow MF, Lo EC, Chu CH. Impact of Silver Diamine Fluoride and Potassium Iodide Therapy on Secondary Caries Prevention and Tooth Discolouration in Cervical Glass Ionomer Cement Restoration. Int J Mol Sci. 2017 Feb 6;18(2):340. doi: 10.3390/ijms18020340. PMID: 28178188; PMCID: PMC5343875.

Related Articles

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Stay Connected

0FansLike
0FollowersFollow
0SubscribersSubscribe
- Advertisement -spot_img

Latest Articles