Week 7 - Mechanical and Chemical Plaque Control Flashcards
What is the challenge
Patients adherence to a proper daily oral hygiene regime as reinforcing oral hygiene habits through additional recall appointments may sometimes compensate for the ineffectiveness of one time or repeated oral hygiene instructions
What are the 3 bands to overcome the challenge
Band 1: establishing rapport
Band 2: Information exchange
Band 3: Closing
What is Band 1 establishing rapport
- Goal to establish rapport is to engage the patient quickly and establish an environment where both conventional dental treatment and health behavior change counselling can occur
- begin with an open question the seeks the patient’s chief complaint or reason for attending the visit is another simple and valuable step
- These opening moments set the scene for the remainder of the visit and can save valuable time later in the session
What is band 2 Information exchange
- This follows initial clinical assessment
- this exchange of information allows both clinician and patient to understand the other’s perspective and create a more accurate picture of the clinical problem and approaches to effective management
What is Band 3: Closing
- Brief summary of the clinical treatment that has been provided together with any expected ide effects or posttreatment discomfort
- opportunity to review the agreed goals or plan of action suggested by the patent in band 2
- Ask the patient if there is anything they would like to add to the plan and confirm with them that the most important point have been covered
How to assess oral hygiene
- Apply a plaque disclosing solution to the teeth and with the aid of a hand mirror demonstrate all sites with plaque to the patient
- Ask the patient to clean their teeth using their traditional technique. With the aid of a hand mirror demonstrate the results of the toothbrushing to the patient, again identifying all sites with plaque
- Without changing the technique ask the patient to clean the surfaces with plaque
How often should you change your toothbrush
3-4 months
What type of toothbrush should you use
Use a soft, nylon or bristled toothbrush with rounded ends and a size that fits in the mouth (small head for children)
When should you brush your teeth
Brush twice a day and once before bedtime because during sleep there is a reduced saliva flow
How long do you brush your teeth for
2 min
What type of tooth paste should you use
The toothpaste should not be too abrasive and should contain fluoride
What is the brushing technique
- Hold the bush at a 45 degree angle against the gums
- ensure that the bristles are in contact with a small part of the gum margin
- Do not brush more than 2 teeth simultaneously
- Hold the brush head horizontally when cleaning the outside surface of the teeth, hold the head vertically when brushing the inside surfaces of the top and bottom teeth
- pit don’t rinse to keep the fluoride for the prevention of caries
- Brush or scape your tongue to help remove additional bacteria and reduce bad breath
Why is interdental cleaning recommended
Interdental brushes are recommended over flossing as interdental brushes are able to clean concavities in between teeth where as average flossing can not. Hence increasing the risk of caries if not cleaned properly.
How should you floss
- break off 18 inches of floss and wind most of it around the finger of one hand and the rest around the other middle finger
- Hold the floss between the thumbs and forefingers and gently guide it through the contact point, then rub it up and down between the teeth
- When it reaches the gum line, the floss should be curved around each tooth and slid gently back and forth against the gum
- Finally, rub gently up and down against the tooth. Repeat with each tooth, including the outside of the back teeth
Why do you need tailored instructions for patients
Repeated individually tailored instruction in mechanical oral hygiene, include interdental cleaning, in order to control inflammation and avoid potential damage for patients in periodontal SPC
