For over 4 decades, BISCO has cemented its place as a leader in dental restorative materials—offering groundbreaking adhesives, core buildup materials, and calcium-releasing products that are backed by sound science and designed for long-term reliability. With the launch of FluoroCal, now available in patient-pleasing Bubble Gum and Green Apple flavors—as well as its original, Spearmint—BISCO is proving its worth in the world of preventive dentistry, too.
“If a company is playing in the dental space, whether the focus is on restoratives or preventives, it’s going to have the science and R&D behind its products and be able to support them,” said Jamie Collins, BS, RDH-EA, a dental industry speaker and writer with a passion for advancing patient care, especially in populations with high-risk factors. “BISCO is obviously an expert in the field of dentistry,” she added.
With an expanded menu of patient-pleasing flavors, FluoroCal has set Collins up for successful fluoride varnish treatments.
What’s in a Flavor?
“Flavor is a big deal to patients,” advised Collins. “Especially when we look at children or special needs populations, who may be sensitive to flavors and textures, it can be a really big deterrent to have a strong or chemical-tasting flavor. Finding a fluoride varnish product like FluoroCal that has a mild flavor and smooth texture is key. There also are adult patients who don’t like the flavor of mint, so I always like to give my patients a choice.”
Sweetened with xylitol, FluoroCal’s Bubble Gum, Green Apple, and Spearmint flavors help ensure patient compliance while penetrating and sealing dentin tubules to provide immediate relief to hypersensitive teeth.
“Especially with kids, you have to make it fun and easy,” added Collins. “The unit dose of FluoroCal makes it easy to apply. Sometimes, you only get one chance to get in there with the varnish, so you want to make it as quick and effective as possible.”
A Fluoride Formula with Perks
A 5% sodium fluoride varnish with tri-calcium phosphate (TCP) that is both calcium and fluoride-releasing, FluoroCal is simply applied with a brush for fast and easy application. The esthetic, white varnish blends with natural tooth color, and varnishes with the combination of fluoride and TCP have been shown to provide greater protection and acid resistance.1
“One thing I really like about FluoroCal is that it has tri-calcium phosphate,” revealed Collins. “It’s an added ingredient that can be really beneficial for patients who have sensitivity in certain areas, and it also provides that extra protection and acid resistance in conjunction with the fluoride.
”She noted that a variety of patient populations can benefit from fluoride varnish application, especially when you factor in patients’ unique dietary habits, associated medical conditions, or existing restorations. “It really is across the board that we’re utilizing fluoride varnish,” she said.
The Patient Conversation
When recommending any treatment, it’s essential to give patients the “why.”
“If patients understand the benefits they can achieve from a treatment like fluoride varnish, they’re even more willing to pay for it out of pocket, even if it’s not a covered service with their insurance,” noted Collins. “At our practice, we decided that if we made fluoride varnish really affordable, then we’d get greater acceptance. So, if it’s not covered by a patient’s insurance, we make it an affordable fee for them anyway. Providing that value and the long-term benefit is the biggest key.”
Patients with multiple crowns or those with sensitivity are great candidates. “With crowns, we know that fluoride uptake can help protect the tooth where it meets the margin of the restoration,” she said. “And, one of the most common complaints we hear from patients is that their teeth are sensitive. With that added benefit of applying FluoroCal as a professional treatment, which delivers a targeted release of calcium and fluoride for over 24 hours,* we can provide them with both immediate and long-term benefits.”
Benefi ts and Beyond
Fortunately, said Collins, the majority of the dental community wholly recognizes the benefits of fluoride varnish for patients of all ages. “We are in a profession with a focus on prevention, so why wouldn’t we do everything we can to help encourage and pass along that preventive focus to our patients?”
She added, “Even with mobile hygiene programs and school-based programs, where hygienists are now going in and providing preventive services to under-served populations, FluoroCal’s ease of application and uptake of fluoride can provide a monumental benefit to our communities.”
Using products like FluoroCal that taste great, are easily applied, and deliver the highest level of protection can help seal the deal for more patients—and their dentin tubules.
References:
*As tested in deionized water.1. Li X. The remineralisation of enamel: A review of the literature. J Dent. 2014;42:S12–S20. doi: 10.1016/S0300–5712(14)50003–6.
