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You have just completed your 6 month visit to the dentist. The hygienist tells you all is well. She wants you to floss the front teeth better, because you have that hard stuff between your teeth. She then proceeds to recommend an electric toothbrush. SHe shows you how to use the floss better. You are confused, all the marketing for toothbrushes is driving you crazy. Do I need an electric toothbrush or not?

Its a Matter of opinion!

The dental field is clearly divided on this topic. Many dentist read articles and convince themselves that what they read is the right way to do things. Other Dentists will read the articles, listen to the sales representatives and then try the toothbrush themselves. After all these trials and information gathering they make up their mind. The advertisements tell you how great they clean, that they have timers and if you put to much pressure on the brush itself, it will turn off.

So, what do I DO?

As a Dentist my recommendation for oral hygiene is as follows:

• Floss as often as you can. Obviously, if you floss after every meal it will lead to better hygiene.
• Brush at least two times a day, no more than three.
• Toothbrushes and toothpaste are abrasive and the more you brush the more damage you can do.
• Do not brush for prolonged periods of time, 30 seconds to one minute should be enough.
• Use oral mouth washes that do not contain alcohol, as these tend to dry out the tissues in the mouth.
• Get a professional cleaning at least twice a year, depending on your dentist recommendation.

The decision of using a regular toothbrush or a manual toothbrush should be easy. These toothbrushes do what they say they are going to do. The bottom line is that they are more aggressive than a manual toothbrush. It is my opinion to use the electric toothbrush once or twice a MONTH!!! If you use it everyday you will get root exposure, leading to an increase in sensitivity to cold.

Using an electric toothbrush or a manual toothbrush should not be the concern. The objective of every patient should be to make sure they brush and floss their teeth daily. In order to maximize their oral health, they should get a professional cleaning by the dental office at least twice a year. It takes hard work from both the patient and the dentiat to maintain their dental health!!!

Published by Dr. David Silber, DMD

Tags: Braun, david silber, Early Prevention, Easy Procedures, electric toothbrushes, hygienist, manual toothbrushes, Minimally Abrasive, Minimally Invasive, No Pain Dentistry, oral b, oral hygiene, preventive dentistry, sonic care, Toothbrush, Uptown dental care and spa

When I graduated from dental school and got my license, I was eager to go out to the world and display all the skills I had learned. Yet after a year and a half of actually dealing with dental insurance and patients in my Puerto Rico private prac- tice, I became a little discouraged. I repeatedly asked myself, how did the profession allow insurance to take over dentistry? I was frustrated with the ‘drill, fill and bill’ aspect of dentistry, I wanted to stick out like a sore thumb!

Later on that year, the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry held its annual meeting in Puerto Rico. A representative for an air abra- sion company at that meeting contacted me with such a great offer that I could not refuse to try air abrasion in my office. My first patient af- ter air abrasion training convinced me that this was my way out of standard dentistry.

See, that first patient needed two defective, rather large, amalgam restorations removed. Never one to hesitate, I proceeded to offer this patient drill-free removal of her amalgams with air abrasion followed by tooth-coloured restoration replacements. Now bear in mind that patients in Puerto Rico usually complain of the $5-25 (£2.40-£12.00) deductible per amalgam restoration and she would need to pay an approximate $65.00 (about £31.20) deductible for the tooth coloured restorations. She not only accepted the treatment plan, but had no problem paying the higher fee! What a concept.

Needless to say, I have learned much about the procedure since that day. However, that first lesson remains true. Patients will pay the extra dollar or drive the extra mile to receive the treatment that they want, performed in the manner that they prefer. To follow a simi- lar path out of the ‘drill, fill and bill’ routine, you must decide which tools to employ in your practice. This is certainly no easy task since there are so many gadgets and gizmos available – each of which proclaim to be ‘the best.’ I will attempt to clear the AIR on minimally invasive dentistry.

The Minimally Invasive Way

What is minimally invasive dentistry? It is thedentistry that we CAN practice today. The ma- terials we now have in dentistry work for us in- stead of us working for the materials. Amalgam requires a minimal thickness for strength and undercuts for mechanical retention. This re- sults in a large amount of preparation done at the expense of healthy enamel and dentin. Understanding modern adhesive dentistry, we can now remove only that part of the tooth that is diseased, and replace it with a tooth-coloured restoration that is aesthetically pleasing and conserves healthy tooth structure. Adhesive dentistry works for us, not against us.

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Published by Dr. David Silber, DMD

Tags: Air Abrasion, DenMat, Minimally Abrasive, No Pain Dentistry