Getting patients to say yes to fluoride treatment can feel like an uphill battle. Even though it’s essential for reducing hypersensitivity and protecting enamel surfaces, traditional fluoride products don’t always leave patients with a great taste in their mouths.
“Dissatisfaction with traditional fluoride varnish by the public is no secret. The taste, smell, feel, and wait times all have contributed to a lack of treatment acceptance,” explained Jo-Anne Jones, RDH, FIADFE, an industry thought leader and sought-after lecturer in the dental community. “To make matters worse, we live in a highly image-conscious society that’s fixated on instant results and immediate gratification.”
That ‘Just Cleaned’ Feeling
Fortunately, 3M Clinpro Clear delivers on all fronts—employing a water-based formula for improved taste, smell, and mouthfeel, as well as a minimum contact time of just 15 minutes.
“The esthetic aspect of Clinpro Clear is immediately noticeable and compliant with the patient’s desire to leave with a smooth, fresh, ‘just cleaned’ mouth,” said Jones. “Patient expectations are met again with the minimum contact time of just 15 minutes, instead of them waiting up to several hours for traditional fluoride varnishes to lose their rough texture and be fully removed. Treatment acceptance is definitely enhanced once the patient understands these key differentiators.”
Clinpro Clear is available in mint, watermelon, or flavorless and has a rosin-free formula, which Jones said gives it a cleaner taste while allowing the true flavor to shine through. “There is no colophony or ‘shellac’ smell that accompanies Clinpro Clear,” she said. Plus, its L-Pop unit dose makes it fast and easy to apply. “It’s convenient and it eliminates the chance of cross-contamination between patients. There is no need to peel open the package—simply press down and the product dispenses into the attached well.”
Fluoride That’s Ready to Release
Leveraging soluble fluoride ions that are immediately available to deposit onto the tooth, Clinpro Clear uses a lower dosage of sodium fluoride to provide similar or higher amounts of fluoride uptake as a traditional 5% varnish treatment.
“The water-based formulation differs from traditional rosin mixtures, which require a longer treatment time,” said Jones. “Until now, there has never been an opportunity for fluoride varnish to interact immediately upon application, as the fluoride ion needed to escape from the varnish and be in contact with saliva before being activated.”
Elevating Treatment Acceptance
Jones recently had an opportunity to experience Clinpro Clear firsthand. “There was absolutely no perception of a product being added to my tooth surface,” she shared. “As I ran my tongue across my entire dentition, it felt slick and smooth, which was an improved and desirable feeling post-treatment. What a tremendous breakthrough that will help my colleagues elevate acceptance of a treatment that is vital to the integrity of the oral cavity.”
