You are currently browsing the tag archive for the 'dental hygienist' tag.
Prevention should serve as a lifestyle pattern for total health, not the least of which is dental health. Prevention in dentistry leads to improved long-term oral health and reduced dental costs. It encourages a bright smile, fresh breath, and an overall good feeling of personal security. Prevention is your insurance policy toward a healthier, pain-free, debt free lifestyle.
Our dental hygienists can provide an excellent service to assist you in the maintenance of your overall dental health. Your cooperation with her can serve to increase your knowledge of your present oral condition. When you keep your appointment with your hygienist, the following benefits will result:
* Your hygienist will customize a personal home care and preventive maintenance program for you and inform you of those dental products that are appropriate for your particular needs. You will be instructed in the proper methods of tooth brushing, flossing and adjunctive dental health devices.
* Your entire mouth will be thoroughly and carefully examined for gum disease, growths, lesions, and any abnormalities that would affect your general health.
* Your teeth will be cleaned and polished to remove plaque and tartar both above and below the gum line, eliminating bacteria that lead to cavities, bad breath, and gum disease.
* Fluoride will be applied to teeth to prevent decay (for children), and root sensitivity / root cavities for adults.
* Sealants can be easily applied to the chewing surfaces of children’s teeth as a protection against future decay.
For our periodontal maintenance patients, your hygienist will use her specialized cleaning instrument, the Cavitron, to not only remove tartar, but also flush bacteria and debris from the periodontal pockets. She will also irrigate and medicate those same pockets with Chlorohexidine Gluconate.
Dental disease is a silent invader, presenting itself in various forms (puffy, bleeding gums, cavities, oral cancer, and abscesses). Although your mouth may appear to be in good health at this time, stresses, body changes, life changes, medications, illness, and age can tax your immune system. Maintaining regular re-care appointments with your hygienist and follow-ups with Dr. Briscoe offer you the assurance that any problems in regard to your oral care will be addressed immediately.
Taking care of tomorrow’s problems today will give you tremendous peace of mind. If you have postponed or missed your last hygiene maintenance appointment, remember: it’s not just a cleaning, it’s an INVESTMENT in your overall health.
Home Care Instructions:
1. Floss twice a day (morning and night). Wrap the dental floss around your middle finger and guide the floss with your index fingers and/or your thumbs as instructed in a “C” shape and scrap up and down.
2. Brush three times a day (morning, lunch, and bedtime). Hold the toothbrush at a 45 degree angle toward the gum line and direct the toothbrush under the gums using a small circular stroke. DO NOT RUSH! Spend 3 to 5 minutes brushing. Dry brushing is fine if it is more convenient. Rinse with water and expectorate.
3. Rubber tip one or two times a day. Using the tip of the stimulator, trace around the gum line of the teeth. Place the rubber tip between the teeth from the inside and outside surfaces and use gentle pressure to massage the gum tissue.
4. Proxabrush one or two times a day if recommended by your dental hygienist. Work the brush between open spaces and around bridgework.
5. If using a water pik, fill the tank with warm water and use medium speed directing the water at the right angle to the long axis of the tooth (never angle the waterjet down into the gum tissue). If you have a heart murmur, heart disease, or an artificial joint, check with your physician before using a water jet device.
6. Use fluoride rinses or desensitizing toothpastes daily if recommended.
For more information visit my website at www.lajolladental.com
Prevention of gum disease for the 75-80% of us who have (had) some form of gingivitis or periodontitis really means preventing it from recurring once we have it under control. Regular dental visits, once again, is one of the top things to do. The dental hygienist and dentist can tailor the frequency of visits to the individual person. Also, the more frequently you visit us, the more need for a personalized home care program to meet your specific needs. And, the dental team can give advice on selecting dental products that will work best for each individual. www.ada.org/public/topics/periodontal_diseases.asp
Homecare is a MAJOR factor in controlling gum disease. Morning, midday, and evening. Floss, brush and usually rubbertip. A good fluoride toothpaste should be used as well as a fluoride mouthrinse. Most people in this situation have recession, and fluoride helps protect the root surfaces.
Eat a well balanced diet, and exercise as often as possible. And, once again, stay away from tobacco products.
For more information, visit my website
We talked previously about periodontal disease and its effect on our overall health. Let’s take some time to explain what is periodontal disease (PD). Periodontal Disease ranges from simple gum inflammation (gingivitis), to serious disease that results in major damage to the soft tissue and bone that support the teeth (periodontitis). An estimated 75-80% of adults in America have some level of PD (epidemic proportions). Because there is no pain until the condition is at a very advanced stage, most people are not aware they are infected with PD. Our mouths are full of bacteria, which along with mucus and other particles (tissue particles, food particles), constantly form a sticky, colorless “plaque” on our teeth. Brushing and flossing help get rid of plaque which, if not removed, can harden into bacteria-harboring “tartar”. The tartar cannot be brushed away. It must be removed by a professional dental cleaning (Thank goodness for dental hygienists!)
See my website for more information on Periodontal Disease
