Strengthening the prevention message
Featured Products Promotional FeaturesPosted by: Dental Design 5th October 2021
The value of prevention has become key to dental care in the UK, with professional teams working hard to educate their patients. Ultimately, everyone will benefit from avoiding the onset or development of oral diseases in a number of ways – not least of which is by enjoying a higher standard of dental health. However, there is much work left to do and now is the time to strengthen the prevention message and help more people remain in good oral health for longer.
Patient education
As is true in any area of life, knowledge is power when it comes to looking after our health. Educating patients and the wider community on the advantages of oral hygiene is a crucial aspect of the dental professional’s role today. How you do this will depend on various factors such as your practice, patient demographic and the communication channels you have access to. Whether you use newsletters, emails, social media or a combination of these and more, getting the right information out there is crucial.
Every message should also be reinforced during check-ups and treatment appointments, helping patients to understand the need for oral hygiene and its impact on their dental and general wellbeing. For example, they need to appreciate that gingival disease can cause much more than tooth loss – though this is bad enough – with periodontitis already linked to a number of systemic conditions from heart disease to stroke, diabetes and cancer. Armed with this knowledge, patients are more likely to take their oral health seriously – which is why education on such topics is recommended for all patients and not just those who may be most at risk.[i]
At-home hygiene
Of course, educated patients will be more motivated to uphold their oral hygiene at home. The dental team are there to help them create and maintain effective oral hygiene routines between practice appointments. Aside from reiterating the basics of twice daily brushing and interdental cleaning, wider conversations around diet, hydration and exercise are also important. So too are discussions about products they might use at home, including what size brushes, toothpaste ingredients or brands may benefit them most.
As a very broad area of interest throughout the global dental community, there is much research into the effectiveness of oral hygiene instruction and education for the improvement of dental health. One paper suggests that setting goals, as well as self- monitoring and planning are important for improving patients’ oral hygiene habits, [ii] which highlights the importance of patient engagement. Another demonstrates the benefits of an individually-tailored educational programme in enhancing long-term compliance with oral hygiene for patients undergoing periodontal treatment – making a particular difference to their interdental cleaning practises.[iii] This is useful in preventing the development of disease in those who already show signs of periodontal issues, but also promotes the need for oral hygiene instruction to always be personalised for the patient.
Supportive therapies
In addition to educating patients, the dental team can offer various in-practice therapies to further support the quest for great oral health. These include dental prophylaxis, which can be extremely helpful in the mechanical removal of plaque and calculus as an effective intervention for potential or existing periodontal disease. Where appropriate, prophylaxis can be performed at risk-based intervals as part of a comprehensive preventive programme for a wide range of patients. The minimally invasive process also removes staining from tooth surfaces, which can offer further motivation for patients to maintain their improved oral hygiene routines.
To get the very best results, it is important that dental professionals use the best products during the procedure. For example, Kemdent Prophylaxis Paste is available in a medium grit texture that quickly and easily removes plaque and stains from tooth surfaces. Its unique formula has been designed to adhere to the brush and is thixotropic to minimise potential splatter for the benefit of both patient and practitioner. It enables a smooth and beautiful finish when polished and even comes in a variety of fun flavours to promote patient comfort too.
Keeping patients in good health
At a time when it has never been more importance to keep patients in good health between appointments, the prevention message needs to be loud and proud. Not only does this enhance patients’ wellbeing, but it will also help to lessen the pressure on practices who are still working through the backlog created by the pandemic. If patients can better care for their teeth and gums at home, they will require less professional intervention and live happier, healthier lives. That’s a win for all involved!
Alistair Mayoh
Marketing Director Kemdent
For more information about the leading solutions available from Kemdent, please visit www.kemdent.co.uk or call 01793 770 256
[i] Delivering Better oral health: an evidence-based toolkit for prevention. Third edition. Public Health England. Department of Health. March 2017. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/605266/Delivering_better_oral_health.pdf[Accessed August 2021]
[ii] Newton JT, Asimakopoulou K. Managing oral hygiene as a risk factor for periodontal disease: a systematic review of psychological approaches to behaviour change for improved plaque control in periodontal management. J Clin Periodontol. 2015 Apr;42 Suppl 16:S36-46. doi: 10.1111/jcpe.12356. PMID: 25639708.
[iii] Jönsson B, Ohrn K, Oscarson N, Lindberg P. The effectiveness of an individually tailored oral health educational programme on oral hygiene behaviour in patients with periodontal disease: a blinded randomized-controlled clinical trial (one-year follow-up). J Clin Periodontol. 2009 Dec;36(12):1025-34. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-051X.2009.01453.x. PMID: 19930092.
