Effectiveness of fluoride varnish in the remineralization of teeth committed by caries in the early stage

Abstract

Dental caries is a disease developed through the release of acids by cariogenic bacteria after the metabolism of carbohydrates that results in tooth demineralization. In its initial phase, it appears as a white, rough and opaque stain, susceptible to remineralization. In this aspect, it is important to discuss the effectiveness of using fluoride varnish for remineralization of teeth affected by caries in the initial phase. The objective is to present the ability of fluor varnish to remineralize dentin enamel. Through a literature review it was possible to establish the inclusion and exclusion criteria of the articles used in this work, highlighting the time criterion from 2017 to 2021, texts in full and published in Portuguese, so that the application of qualitative and analytical methods enabled the construction of this literature review. The analyzed articles show that enamel remineralization through fluoride varnish therapy with weekly application, 4 times in a row, represents a viable technique to inactivate early-stage caries lesions, and although there is a lot of evidence about its effectiveness the use of fluoride for this purpose, the idea is not widespread among dentists. It is noteworthy that fluoride in its various forms of presentation (varnish, gel, toothpaste, mouthwash solution) is effective not only in preventing, but also in reversing the disease, but that it is important to change hygiene habits and diet to obtain a satisfactory result in the treatment.