Dental Tribune United Kingdom Edition

November 12-18, 2012United Kingdom Edition A unique combination of a preparation shield and a sectional matrix for Class II fillings of primary teeth. FenderPrime enables a fast, simple and safe restoration of primary teeth. FenderPrime is available in two sizes, long and short. Samples available. Protection and matrix for primary teeth If you hassle the kids the kids will hassle you Pedodontists love FenderPrime… Hassle free restorative dentisty with kids in mind! Specially designed periodontal ligament knives with fine tapering blades that compress the alveolar bone, cut the membrane and gently ease the tooth from the socket with a minimum of tissue damage. Available in 8 standard sizes and 5 short sizes, enabling an easier working position for smaller hands. Luxator Kit LK4 (4 instruments) Plus FREE Forte 3.2 worth € 62.00 £ 210.00 Luxator Kit LK7 (7 instruments) Plus FREE Forte 3.2 & RootPicker worth € 108.50 £ 355.00 FenderPrime Refill Short, Neon Yellow or Long Neon Green 18 pcs FenderPrime Assortment Short, Neon Yellow and Long Neon Green 2 x 18 pcs £ 16.25 £ 25.85 + + 3519-1209©DirectaAB DISTRIBUTED IN THE UK BY TRYCARE TEL. 01274-88 55 44 BDTA OFFER UNTIL 31 ST JANUARY 2013 D ental professionals all understand the im- portance of good oral health. In order to maintain the best standard of oral health we recommend our patients brush for at least two minutes twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste, change their toothbrush regular- ly, and of course, visit the dentist every six months for a check-up. But while these guidelines may be adequate for the av- erage patient in good bodily health, for certain groups a more rigorous oral hygiene regime is required. Diabetics are one such group. Accord- ing to sources, since 1996 the number of people with diabe- tes in the UK has risen from 1.4 to 2.9 million. This figure is expected to rise to 4 million by 2025. Not only is diabetes a serious condition affecting pa- tients’ general bodily health, it can greatly impact upon their oral health as well. Research would suggest that people with diabetes (ei- ther type I or type II) are at a higher risk of developing oral health problems such as gingivitis and periodontitis. This is because diabetics are generally more susceptible to bacterial infection, especially if they are uncontrolled, and oral infection can start at a younger age and be more se- vere. As such it is vital that patients in this highly suscep- tible group give extra atten- tion to their oral health. For diabetic patients, vis- iting the dentist regularly becomes even more of an es- sential activity and regular sessions with the hygienist are highly recommended. For the best oral health outcomes, diabetic patients should in- clude periodontal care as part of their daily oral hygiene rou- tine. Traditionally, dental practi- tioners will often recommend flossing as a useful adjunct to regular brushing. If carried out correctly, floss can still be a useful tool for some pa- tients, however the number of cases in which floss is actually used successfully by patients is surprisingly limited. For a start, dental floss is notori- ously difficult to use correctly, and for patients with dexterity problems in particular, it just isn’t suitable at all. This has led to many questions being raised regarding floss, its ef- ficacy and its effectiveness in supporting good periodontal health. Indeed, in a study on the benefits of floss in reducing interproximal caries, Hujoel and colleagues identified 144 different studies, of which only six were thought appro- priate for inclusion in the final report. With the report sug- gesting a significant lack of evidence actually supporting the use of floss it would seem prudent then for clinicians to change the oral health mes- sage from “flossing” to “in- terdental cleaning” and so focus chair-side education on patient preference and clini- cally proven outcomes. Simi- larly, Berchier and colleagues reported a lack of evidence for adding flossing to tooth brushing in reducing gingival inflammation and bleeding.iii With this in mind, clini- cians should consider the al- ternative products available to support patients’ oral health. Of the many different prod- ucts available, one of the most effective is the Water Flosser. Although, as with most oral healthcare products, there are a number of brands available on the market, however, they don’t all provide the same sci- entifically verified outcomes. Furthermore it should be re- membered that studies con- ducted on one brand are not transferable to other brands. First developed by Water Pik, Inc in the middle part of the 20th century, Water Floss- ers (also known as oral irriga- tors or dental water jets) are a highly effective, clinically proven alternative to dental floss. Scientific evidence sug- gests, for example, that Water Flossers significantly reduce plaque biofilm from tooth surfaces, and the Waterpik® Water Flosser in particular has been proven to remove 99.9 per cent of plaque bio- film after only a three-second treatment. Indeed, Water- pik® Water Flossers have also been shown to reduce gingivitis, bleeding, probing pocket depth, host inflamma- tory mediators and calculus. This means Water Flossers are particularly suited for dia- betic patients who must take particular care with their oral health. When compared with tra- ditional string floss, the ben- efits of a high quality Water Flosser are quite remarkable. In 2005 for example, Barnes et al. compared manual or power brushing alongside use of a market-leading Water Flosser with a classic jet tip, to manual brushing and floss- ing. Results demonstrated that regardless of toothbrush used, the addition of a Water Flosser was better at reducing gingivitis and gingival bleed- ing compared to brushing and flossing. In 2008, a study by Sharma et al. evaluated the efficacy of Waterpik® Water Floss- ers using a specialised ortho- dontic tip with adolescents in fixed appliances compared to flossing. Results in this study showed that the Waterpik® Water Flosser was significant- ly better than brushing and flossing or brushing alone for reducing plaque biofilm and gingival bleeding. Most recently, Rosema et al. compared manual brush plus a top-selling Water Floss- er with either a standard jet tip or a new prototype tip to manual brush and flossing. At four weeks, it was evident that either type of tip used along- side manual tooth brushing was significantly better at re- ducing bleeding than flossing. Notably, the flossing group showed no difference statis- tically or numerically from baseline to four weeks. The 13 per cent reduction seen at two weeks reverted back to base- line (0 per cent) at four weeks. Given the significant weight of evidence supporting the use of Waterpik® Water Flossers, it is clear that pa- tients from high risk groups can benefit greatly from adopting a Water Flosser into their regular oral hygiene re- gime. For best results, and to ensure diabetic patients re- ceive the best possible care, clinicians should recommend brands and products that are supported by scientific, evi- dence-based reports. DT Supporting diabetic patients with their oral health A look at the Waterpik® For more information on Waterpik® Water Flossers please speak to your whole- saler or visit www.waterpik. co.uk. Waterpik® products are widely available in Boots stores and selected Lloyds Pharmacies. Contact Info This is an advertising feature