Jonesboro Pediatric Clinic now offers fluoride varnish! Fluoride varnish provides extra protection against tooth decay so we can keep your little one’s teeth healthy.
Fluoride varnish is a gel that is painted onto your child’s teeth. The entire process is administered quickly, typically under two minutes. The varnish forms a sticky covering to the tooth and becomes hard as soon as saliva in the mouth touches it. The varnish sets quickly and has a pleasant smell and taste.
The fluoride in the varnish enters the tooth enamel and makes the tooth hard. It prevents new cavities and slows down or stops decay from getting worse.
Yes, fluoride varnish is very safe. In fact it can even be used on babies from the time they have their first tooth. Because the varnish is painted onto teeth and only a very small amount is used, almost no fluoride is swallowed by the child.
The service is available for children under five years-old unless provided by your dentist.
We recommend children get fluoride varnish during their well-child check ups at 9 months, 12 months, 15 months, 18 months, and 2 years. Studies show that children who receive fluoride varnish every three months have fewer cavities than those who receive it less often.
Fluoride varnish is covered by most insurance providers at this time. We encourage patient families to contact their insurance company prior to receiving this service.
Please note that getting fluoride varnish at Jonesboro Pediatric Clinic does not replace regular visits to the dentist. We still recommend children begin seeing a dentist at the age of 2 years old.
Should you have any questions or concerns about fluoride varnish, we encourage you to call us at Jonesboro Pediatric Clinic.
