Flavor-Free Enamelast
With a hint of sweetness that disappears in minutes, this 5% sodium fluoride varnish aims to please on both sides of the chair with easy application, high fluoride uptake, and a nearly invisible appearance
Dental manufacturers go to great lengths ensuring their products are patient compliant, and in the case of fluoride varnish, that often translates into a pleasing flavor. So, it may be puzzling to some as to why Ultradent created a flavor-free version of its awardwinning Enamelast fluoride varnish—but not to hygienist Stacey Abatessa.
“There is definitely a need for a flavor-free varnish, as this is one of the top complaints I receive from patients regarding fluoride varnish treatments,” she said, adding that the flavorless Enamelast was most helpful with kids and yielded higher acceptance rates than the previous varnish she was using. “What I like about Flavor-Free Enamelast is the pleasant taste. It has a very subtly sweet, but not overpowering, flavor that patients commented on in a positive way.”
After trying Flavor-Free Enamelast on patients in her Indiana practice, Twyla Rader had similar thoughts to share. “The flavor was not unpleasant, and I think the most important thing to note is that there was no smell,” she said. “Many fluoride varnishes have a strong smell that patients notice even before it’s applied.”
“What I like about Flavor-Free Enamelast is the pleasant taste. It has a very subtly sweet, but not overpowering flavor that patients commented on in a positive way.”
- Stacey Abatessa, RDH,
Danvers, MA
Designed to Work for You and Your Patients
Available in convenient unit-dose blister packs, Enamelast 5% sodium fluoride varnish features a non-gritty consistency designed for an easy application on both sides of the chair.
“Enamelast is conveniently packaged with the applicator, and it wasn’t clumpy or stringy,” noted Rader. “It seemed to flow well over the teeth—not too liquidy or runny—and didn’t end up globby toward the end of placement. It is just viscous enough that it adhered to the tooth, even the buccal/lingual surfaces, without looking like the patient had bits of plaque stuck to their teeth.”
A patented adhesion-promoting agent built into the varnish enhances its retention and allows for higher fluoride release and uptake. Plus, Enamelast’s nearly invisible appearance encourages patients to leave the varnish on their teeth for a longer period of time—encouraging maximum fluoride ion delivery to every tooth.
“I tried the varnish on myself, and I liked how it set instantly and that there was no stickiness on my teeth,” shared Sherry Morrisey, RDH, adding that she noticed the clear color on her teeth right away, which avoided the dreaded “cottage cheese” look. “It glided on easily and didn’t clump on the brush, and its ability to adhere was great. After applying it to my own teeth, I could still feel it 6 hours later—even after eating. That made me feel like it was still working.”
An Option Worth Offering
In addition to this new flavor-free option, Enamelast fluoride varnish also is available in 5 great-tasting flavors—Orange Cream, Cool Mint, Bubble Gum, Walterberry, and Caramel—that all offer easy application, exceptional retention, high fluoride uptake, and a smooth appearance.
“Flavor-Free Enamelast is a good idea for kids who say they hate all flavors, or even adults who are picky,” Morrissey added. “The patients who I applied it on said it felt and tasted like nothing. I would probably buy this product just to have some on hand for those hard-to-please patients.”
