Modern Hygienist - October 2008 - (Page 22)

patients | HOMECARE What’s hot in homecare Patients have plenty of high-tech options when it comes to homecare, but your input makes the di erence. by Noah Levine Brushing, flossing and rinsing—the basics of home oral healthcare—date back to prehistoric times. Sure these tools have been refined over the centuries, but just a few decades ago most homecare products were similar in design and functionality, and consumers really only had a choice between brand names and the color of their next toothbrush. Today, the dental aisle of the local drug store is still filled with brushes, flosses and rinses, but it’s more crowded than ever as technological advancements backed by compelling clinical studies have brought greater variety and more specialization to the increasingly effective consumer products available. Philips Sonicare’s HealthyWhite sonic power toothbrush is said to whiten teeth up to two shades in two weeks with regular use and help extend the results of whitening treatments. The toothbrush features “sensitive” mode and “clean & white” mode, which provides 30 seconds of whitening and two minutes of sonic cleaning. Visit sonicare.com. STATE OF THE ART Affordable power brushes and flossers now share shelf space with countless manual brush designs, and a greater variety of natural products allow people to express their preference for non-chemical ingredients in their choice of toothpaste and mouthwash. “We’ve come a long way from the manual toothbrushes that were first introduced. I think it’s made oral healthcare more accessible to more people,” says Gail B. Stoops RDH, BS, senior manager of professional relations at Philips Sonicare. “There’s a tremendous amount of potential for people to become healthier.” Electronic brushes and water jet flossers date back to at least the 1950s, but today they’re more plentiful and more affordable than ever. Whether based around a high-speed motor, sonic technology or high-powered water pumps, clinical studies continue to show that when properly used, these high-tech products are extremely effective at both cleaning teeth and preventing decay. PROVEN EFFECTIVENESS Deborah M. Lyle, RDH, MS, director of professional and clinical affairs for Water Pik Inc., says the technology behind her company’s water jets, power flossers and power toothbrushes has advanced greatly during the last 45 years, but it’s only now that the clinical studies are catching up to just how effective they’ve always been when it comes to reducing caries infections. The key is the jets’ ability to clean interproximally and sub-gingivally. “The developers probably didn’t realize how long this would last,” she says. “You could almost say it was a product before its time.” tip Your patients value your expertise and opinion. It’s a good idea to be familiar with the homecare products available today so you can make confident recommendations. 22 modernhygienist.com | October 2008 PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES http://www.sonicare.com http://www.modernhygienist.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Modern Hygienist - October 2008

Modern Hygienist - October 2008 Contents Editor's Letter Letters News Modern Solutions Trends: Homecare Trends: Perio Trends: Ergo Trends: Mid Care After Chemo Professional Rewind Esthetic Expertise: Make or Break Relationship Hands-on Hygiene: Have You Seen the Light? Going the Distance Training for Life Presi-dental Politics Ad Index Moonlighting

Modern Hygienist - October 2008

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