Gum Recession and Electric Toothbrushes
I just received this question from a friend: Hi Ben Had a most interesting meeting with a 55 year old DDS yesterday. He notes that a significant number of his patients are showing more and more signs of recession. (Age noted) He has just started flagging his patients who are using electric tooth brushes and […]
We Teach People How to Treat Us
I have to re-teach patients how to treat me. This begins with reviewing my message. Oh, you didn’t think your preventive dentistry message to patients had anything to do with establishing appropriate therapeutic and financial expectations? No one told you this? Keep reading.
Advanced Sites as Parameter #2 in SPT
Well informed patients track the numbers and understand what they mean. They know that their bleeding index should be under 20% and that they should have no pockets greater than 5mm. When we boil this all down, how hard is that?
Using Bleeding Index in Periodontal Therapy
I teach the bleeding index to patients in order to help them better manage daily home plaque control.
The Fundamental Steps of a Supportive Periodontal Therapy Appointment
Pass this along to every dental hygienist who treats periodontal patients.
My Recommendations on Use of Arestin in Periodontal Therapy
Where Arestin® is very useful is in Periodontal Supportive Therapy (aka Recare or Periodontal Maintenance). Used correctly it can enable patients to not require periodontal surgery as frequently or at all. Here is where I believe it is best utilized.
Questions about Water Fluoridation
Both sides of water fluoridation are passionate. One side believes it to be one of the ten most important public health advances of the 20th century. http://1.usa.gov/xM8jsl This group includes organized dentistry, politicians, and public officials. On the other side are a few concerned scientists who somehow have the courage or the protection from political […]
To Fill or Not to Fill?
Here is an interesting article that recently came out in the health section of the New York Times. When a patient remains in the same dental practice for many years, it makes it possible for his or her dentist to take a more conservative approach to the management early decay. http://nyti.ms/vqwiZQ