title: Patient and parental perception of a new fluoride varnish.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to compare children's and their parents' acceptability of a new fluoride varnish that purports to have improved taste and color with a control varnish. Sixty patients, 4 to 17 years of age, attending recall appointments at the University of Washington Pediatric Dental Clinic, Seattle, Washington, were randomly assigned to receive 1 of 2 fluoride varnishes. After their appointments, patients and their parents were asked about the varnish's taste and color. There were 32 patients 4 to 7 years of age and 28 patients 8 to 17 years of age. All 8- to 17-year-olds agreed that "white varnish" was preferable to "brown varnish." Most of the 4- to 7-year-olds also agreed that white was better. The 4- to 7-year-olds did not like the taste of either varnish, but the 8- to 17-year-olds preferred the taste of white. All parents cared mostly about efficacy, but agreed that the white, better-tasting varnish was a positive improvement. Parents and their children agreed that though the white varnish is best, the taste was far from ideal for the younger children, based on its single bubble-gum flavor and the standard control fluoride varnish available.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Dentistry, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA.
authors.forename: Joel
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Berg
authors.forename: Christine A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Riedy
authors.forename: Ashley
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tercero
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002327:Cariostatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003116:Color; D004955:Esthetics, Dental; D005260:Female; D005421:Flavoring Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D005460:Fluorides, Topical / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D012969:Sodium Fluoride / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013649:Taste / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D002327:Cariostatic Agents; C120870:Duraflor; D005421:Flavoring Agents; D005460:Fluorides, Topical; D012969:Sodium Fluoride