Introduction

Fluoride, the most effective and extensively tested of the current anti caries agents, continues to be the corner stone of caries preventive programmes. Fluoride ions may net in several ways simultaneously to inhibit dental caries viz; by reducing enamel solubility, enhancing, re mineralization and fostering ant microbial activity. To combat the problem of caries formation, a number of fluorine containing formulations were put on the market and a wide spread use of fluorine compounds in tooth paste is a consequence of this. The conventional topical fluoride solutions (NaF, SnF2, in aqueous form) and dentrifices have a major disadvantages that they remain in contact with teeth under in vivo conditions, for a very short time, i.e. 5-7 minutes before getting diluted and washed away by saliva. Consequently, only a small amount of fluoride gets permanently retained in the enamel and a considerable portion of the acquired fluoride leaches away during first 24 hours of fluoride application.

To overcome the drawback of aqueous fluoride composition, a water resistant fluoride containing varnish is used in European Countries under the trade name of "Duraphat" which forms a thin film on dental surface when applied and can adhere to tooth surface even in the presence of saliva. Consequently, only a small amount of fluoride gets permanently retained in the enamel and a considerable portion of the acquired fluoride leaches away during first 24 hours of fluoride application.

The commercial varnish "Duraphat" is not manufactured in India and is being imported in the country at an exorbitant price. The project entitled, "Development of an active fluoride containing dental varnish for caries prophylaxies and treatment of sensitive neck of teeth" was sponsored to Shriram Institute by Indian Council of Medical Research" for two years.

The objective of the project was to develop a varnish equivalent to the imported product, "Duraphat". The project was conducted in two phases. Phase-I envisaged the development of indigenous varnish at Shriram Institute for Industrial Research including the toxicological studies and phase-II consisted of clinical trials carried out at PGI, Chandigarh. The product has been successfully developed and clinically tested. SRI developed dental varnish was found to be comparable to Duraphat in clinical trails and was agreed upon at the meeting of the task force group on biomaterials in oral health at ICMR. The cost of the indigenous product developed was one tenth of the imported one.

Advantages

The commercial dental vanrish "Duraphat" is not manufactured in India and is being imported in the country at an exorbitant cost. SRI has developed a dental varnish equivalent to "Duraphat" in performance and properties at a cheaper rate. The lower cost and indigenous availability of the fluoride varnish will help in popularising thedental care programme in both urban and rural sectors through primary health care centre. The suggested plant capacity can be 10 kg/month.