Varnish VLC: A flake glass dental coating to protect against wear and erosion

Tooth decay affects a third of children and almost half of adults in Britain. Treating caries early on could save the NHS £8.2 million every year – yet existing treatments, such as fluoride varnishes and the resin infiltration technique, fail to provide an effective solution.

Queen Mary’s Dr Saroash Shahid, in partnership with PSP Dental, is developing Varnish VLC, a patented biomimetic dental coating that overcomes the drawbacks of existing treatment options by providing durable protection against wear and acid erosion.

Varnish VLC works using flake glass. The inspiration came from the flake glass epoxy coatings used by civil engineers to protect oil rigs and major structures like the Forth Bridge from corrosion. Varnish VLC brings this same technology to dentistry to help overcome the challenges of dental caries.

Early invitro comparative studies have demonstrated that, compared to existing treatment options, Varnish VLC provides:

• Higher wear resistance
• Better protection from acid erosion
• More versatile aesthetics
• Easier application which is minimally invasive and non-aerosol generating

We are working alongside PSP Dental to scale up production from the lab to the market. We’re looking for distributors and partners to help us bring Varnish VLC to dentists worldwide.