Educate about fluoride varnish and insurance coverage.
- Support your discussion with Fernando’s parent by quoting fluoride safety data.
- Fluoride varnish is safe, effective, well tolerated by infants and young children, has minimal risk for ingestion, and has prolonged therapeutic effect.
- Fluoride promotes enamel remineralization, reduces enamel demineralization, inhibits bacterial metabolism and acid production, and has antimicrobial effects (especially at a lower pH).
- Once teeth are present, fluoride varnish may be applied to all children every 3 to 6 months in the primary care or dental office.
- Indications for fluoride use are noted in the 2014 AAP clinical report “Fluoride Use in Caries Prevention in the Primary Care Setting.”
- Fluoride varnish application has been added to the Bright Futures/AAP Periodicity Schedule.
- Inform families that dental insurance is incorporated in government plans (eg, Medicaid/CHIP) and help them in obtaining coverage.