Dentaltown June 2015 - (Page 36)
hygiene
feature
Electric Toothbrushes
The Benefits of Tech
by Richard Nagelberg, DDS
Some patients who are using manual toothbrushes
have excellent oral health. Far more frequently, however, this is not the case. I find that switching patients
to a power toothbrush makes an immediate and positive impact on their oral health.
The reason power toothbrushes are more effective
than manual brushes is due to the number of brush
strokes. Power toothbrushes provide far more brush
strokes than manual brushes in the same amount
of time. Some power toothbrushes are able to provide more brush strokes in a minute than manual
toothbrushes can deliver in a month. This makes
them vastly more effective at removing plaque and
preventing periodontal diseases.
Power toothbrushes are so significantly superior,
in fact, there is essentially no comparison. And even
though there's an increased number of brush strokes,
I still recommend toothpaste use with power toothbrushes. The polishing agent in toothpaste helps
remove biofi lm and teeth stains, and fluoridated
toothpaste helps combat caries.
As a dental professional, I recommend power
toothbrushes to my patients on a regular basis. That's
because a patient's gingival health is a direct reflection of his or her home-care regimen. If the patient
has periodontal involvement, changes in home care
must occur immediately. Most commonly, this means
switching to a power toothbrush.
When a patient develops periodontitis, the disease
must be managed for the rest of his or her life.
Educating patients about the use of a power toothbrush
is all about effective communication. It is easy to help
patients understand the differences between manual
and power toothbrushes by describing the number of
brush strokes provided by each. In my practice, when
we discuss the power toothbrush model that provides
more brush strokes in two minutes than a manual
provides in a month, the impact is stunning. We have
this type of dialogue every day.
For the patient to receive the maximum benefit,
it's essential that the power toothbrush receives proper
care. Power toothbrush heads (like manual toothbrushes) should be replaced every three months because
as the bristles wear over time, they remove less plaque.
This is the case even before the bristles are visibly
splayed. Research indicates that plaque removal by a
brush head that is three months old is diminished by
approximately 27 percent. On a clinical level, patients
can immediately feel the difference in the firmness of
the bristles on a new brush head.
Small-sized brush heads are helpful for patients
with accessibility issues. Patients with limited opening,
small mouths, or tight buccal vestibules, and individuals
with crowded dentition are the patients who benefit
most from small-sized brush heads. The only potential
disadvantage is if an individual without limited access
uses a small manual brush head-it may take longer to
remove biofilm throughout the mouth. However, with
power toothbrushes providing two-minute automatic
brushing cycles and an increased number of strokes,
sticking with proper brushing with a smaller brush head
is sure to provide thorough cleaning of all dentition. ■
How often do you recommend electric toothbrushes to your patients?
Comment on this article at Dentaltown.com/magazine.aspx.
Author Bio
Dr. Richard H. Nagelberg is an advocate for understanding the medical manifestations of periodontal disease and systemic
links. Since 2003, Dr. Nagelberg has presented hundreds of lectures and continuing-education seminars nationwide and has
published several articles. His online continuing-education courses have provided thousands of dentists and hygienists with
valuable professional development opportunities for furthering their education and careers.
36
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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Dentaltown June 2015
On Dentaltown.com
Howard Speaks: Dentists: Let's Band Together to Improve Public Health
Professional Courtesy: The Appointment is Broken and You Can't Fix It
Continuing Education Update
Poll
Forensic Odontology: Solving Crimes One Tooth at a Time
Routine Equipment Maintenance and Checklist
Minimally Invasive Approach: Implant Prosthetics and Aesthetics of a Lateral Incisor
Electric Toothbrushes: The Benefits of Tech
OFFICE VISIT: The Ninja Dentist Reveals Her Training Ground
The Best 401(k) Plan: Pooled or Participant-Directed?
The State of Little Teeth: Answers About the ACA and Access to Care for Children
How to Successfully Administer Insurance in Your Practice
Continuing Education: Slow-Growing Nodule of the Hard Palat: Differential Diagnosis and Management
Corporate Profile: DentalMarketing.net: Maximizing the ROI of Your Practice
Products in Practice: Ivoclar Vivadent
Disney for Dentists: How Walt’s Principles Can Improve Your Cash Flow
Burnout: The Dental Pain No One Mentions
New Products
Ad Index
Improve Care, Increase Revenue: The Case for Midlevel Providers
How to Calculate Maximum Dosages of Lidocaine and Articaine Anesthetic
Not Your Everyday Oral Pathology Lesion
Overcoming the Entrepreneurial Conundrum
Dentally Incorrect
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