4.3 Fluoride Varnish Application
To apply the fluoride varnish:
- Place the disposable towel or bib in your lap.
- Place the infant or child in the knee-to-knee position.
- Dip the brush into the varnish. (To save time, some medical providers place the varnish on the back of the gloved hand that is not being used to apply the varnish.)
- Use gentle finger pressure to open the infant’s or child’s mouth.
- Dry a section of the teeth with gauze.
- Apply a thin layer of varnish to the inside, outside, and chewing surfaces of the dried teeth.
- Move to a new section, and repeat steps 3–6 until varnish has been applied to all teeth.
Once the varnish has been applied, it is not necessary to keep the teeth dry, since varnish sets up quickly in the presence of saliva. The medical provider may offer the infant or child water immediately after fluoride application.
See Also
The Untold Story of Fluoridation: Revisiting the Changing PerspectivesIs Fluoride Treatment at the Dentist Worth It?Post Care Guide to Eating after Fluoride TreatmentFluoride varnish: is there any benefit?Video: Fluoride Varnish Application
This video shows the positioning of a child for the application of fluoride varnish using the knee-to-knee position. Joanna Douglass, B.D.S., D.D.S., provides step-by-step instructions on how to apply varnish to both a young child with only front teeth and an older child with front and back teeth.
Used with permission from Joanna Douglass, B.D.S., D.D.S., University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine. 2008.
