Ann Arbor, MI — December 5, 2011 — The University of Michigan School of Dentistry is replacing the use of fluoride foams and gels in its clinics to treat patients at risk for caries.  Effective Nov. 14, those patients are being treated with fluoride varnish, when it is appropriate.

Foams and gels, which have been used for the past forty or fifty years in School clinics, are being replaced with fluoride varnish “because the varnish is more effective and has less risk of acute toxicity.  An added bonus is that it takes less time to apply,” said Dr. Carlos González-Cabezas an associate professor of dentistry and clinical dentist who also researches dental caries and erosion and their clinical management.

“Although both gels and varnishes have been shown to be effective, reviews suggest that varnishes might be more effective in preventing caries than gels.  But clinical data about the effectiveness of foams is scarce,” he said, adding that it takes approximately two or three minutes to apply a varnish compared to five or six minutes for a foam or gel.

Cost is another reason for the change.  “In the past, varnishes were significantly more expensive, but not any more,” González-Cabezas said.  He added that results of some clinical surveys have found that patients and dentists prefer varnish to gels.

González-Cabezas said that cariology courses taught at the School of Dentistry emphasize the benefits of fluoride varnish compared to foam or gels.  He noted the American Dental Association, the American Association of Pediatric Dentists, and the Centers for Disease Control highly recommend fluoride varnish for at-risk patients.