Dental Tribune U.S. Edition

HYGIENE TRIBUNE Tell us what you think! Do you have general comments or criticism you would like to share? Is there a particular topic you would like to see articles about in Hygiene Tribune? Let us know by e-mailing feedback@dental-tribune.com. We look forward to hearing from you! If you would like to make any change to your subscription (name, address or to opt out) please send us an e-mail at database@dental-tribune.com and be sure to include which publication you are referring to. Also, please note that subscription changes can take up to 6 weeks to process. oral health care being monitored and provided on a daily basis under the guid- ance of a trained professional. Of serious concern is: Are all baby boomers thinking about the future of their oral health? A pattern seen in clini- cal practice suggests that some boom- ers won't take action on impending oral health-care issues until they are faced with an unexpected event, such as frac- turing a crown on a front tooth while holding tickets to tonight’s hot show. Even people in their 40s will often clutch their hearts and spout the adage, “Not at my old age, I am not paying for a new crown,” when approached with a treat- ment plan. With the expected life span of our pop- ulation swiftly approaching an 80-year average, it's surprising how people who are only half way through the journey will refuse procedures and maintenance that will serve them for their remaining 40 to 60 years. Fortunately, these slow- responding baby boomers are a small percentage of the silver tsunami. My experience suggests that boomers on av- erage have a tremendous interest in all matters of health and well-being. Ques- tions I typically encounter from people in this group range from curiosity about alternative care to interest in surgical intervention. This group is enjoying life, and that likely will continue, with many taking action to live long and live well, with a goal of becoming centagenarians. The ultimate question is: Who will be the banner carrier for this surging silver tsunami? Who or what group will deliver the wake-up call for the action necessary to prepare for the tremendous changes swelling in front of us? Pockets of effort and well-meaning meetings are occur- ring nationwide. But the substructure of rules and regulations needed before we are truly prepared are not yet in place. Nor is the mindset of the general public open to the understanding of the critical nature of the challenges facing us. Educated, practiced and knowledge- able dental hygienists are ready to meet the booming oral health-care demands of special-needs and elder populations. Dental hygienists can lead this move- ment of change. Education is the first battle cry. Then comes the change need- ed to clear pathways. Then, finally, comes action — action that channels the care that matches or exceeds the needs of the approaching silver tsunami. ˙ References • www.ada.org/consensusconference. aspx#works. • www.babyboomer-magazine.com/ news/165/ARTICLE/1095/2010-03-26.html. • Ide, R., Hoshuyama, T., and Takahashi, K. (2007). The effects periodontal disease on medical and dental costs in a middle-aged Japanese population: a longitudinal worksite study. Journal of Periodontology Online. 78, 11, 2120–2126. Retrieved Oct. 17, 2011, from Pub Med at www.joponline.org/ doi/abs/10.1902/jop.2007.070193. • Shay, K., (2002). Infectious complications of dental and periodontal diseases in the elderly population. Clinical Infectious Diseases, 34, 9, 1215–1223. • Diseases, 40, 12, 1807–1810. Retrieved Oct. 20, 2011, from www.cid.oxfordjournals.org/ content/40/12/1807. Oral-B brush head combines gentleness and superior cleaning of an electric with familiar shape and brushing motion of a manual C2 Publisher & Chairman Torsten Oemus t.oemus@dental-tribune.com Chief OPerating OffiCer Eric Seid e.seid@dental-tribune.com grOuP editOr & designer Robin Goodman r.goodman@dental-tribune.com editOr in Chief dental tribune Dr. David L. Hoexter feedback@dental-tribune.com editOr in Chief hygiene tribune Patricia Walsh, RDH feedback@dental-tribune.com managing editOr Robert Selleck r.selleck@dental-tribune.com managing editOr shOw dailies Kristine Colker k.colker@dental-tribune.com managing editOr Fred Michmershuizen f.michmershuizen@dental-tribune.com managing editOr Sierra Rendon s.rendon@dental-tribune.com PrOduCt/aCCOunt manager Mara Zimmerman m.zimmerman@dental-tribune.com PrOduCt/aCCOunt manager Charles Serra c.serra@dental-tribune.com marketing direCtOr Anna Kataoka-Wlodarczyk a.wlodarczyk@dental-tribune.com C.e. direCtOr Christiane Ferret c.ferret@dtstudyclub.com aCCOunting COOrdinatOr Nirmala Singh n.singh@dental-tribune.com Tribune America, LLC 116 West 23rd Street, Suite 500 New York, NY 10011 Phone (212) 244-7181 Published by Tribune America © 2012 Tribune America, LLC All rights reserved. Tribune America strives to maintain the utmost ac- curacy in its news and clinical reports. If you find a factual error or content that requires clarification, please contact Managing Editor Robert Selleck at r.selleck@dental-tribune.com. Tribune America cannot assume responsibility for the validity of product claims or for typographical errors. The publisher also does not assume respon- sibility for product names or statements made by advertisers. Opinions expressed by authors are their own and may not reflect those of Tribune America. editOrial bOard Dr. Joel Berg Dr. L. Stephen Buchanan Dr. Arnaldo Castellucci Dr. Gorden Christensen Dr. Rella Christensen Dr. William Dickerson Hugh Doherty Dr. James Doundoulakis Dr. David Garber Dr. Fay Goldstep Dr. Howard Glazer Dr. Harold Heymann Dr. Karl Leinfelder Dr. Roger Levin Dr. Carl E. Misch Dr. Dan Nathanson Dr. Chester Redhead Dr. Irwin Smigel Dr. Jon Suzuki Dr. Dennis Tartakow Dr. Dan Ward Tell us what you think! Do you have general comments or criticism you would like to share? Is there a particular topic you would like to see articles about in Hygiene Tribune? Let us know by e-mailing feedback@dental-tribune.com. We look forward to hearing from you! If you would like to make any change to your subscription (name, address or to opt out) please send us an e-mail at database@dental- tribune.com and be sure to include which publication you are referring to. Also, please note that subscription changes can take up to six weeks to process. Oral-B® is showcasing its new Deep Sweep™ power brush head at this year’s Chicago Dental Society’s 147th annual Midwinter Meeting. Launched to dental professionals in October of last year, the newest brush head for the Oral-B Profes- sional Series line of power toothbrushes provides the gentleness and superior cleaning of an electric brush without changing the familiar shape and brush- ing motion of a manual brush. It is now available for patients to buy in retail stores na- tionwide. The Oral-B Deep Sweep has a unique combination of sweeping and sta- tionary bristles with a dynamic, angled power tip, creating triple-zone clean- ing action that thoroughly cleans deep between teeth and gets to places that regular manual toothbrushes normally miss. The Deep Sweep provides supe- rior cleaning — with no change in tech- nique — versus a regular manual brush, as well as superior plaque removal and gum health versus sonic technology. “We strive to continuously provide dental professionals and their patients with the best oral care solutions for their needs,” said Dr. Veronica Sanchez, global scientific communications direc- New power brush head showcased in Chicago tor, Procter and Gamble. “The new Deep Sweep was designed for patients who en- joy the familiar shape and brushing mo- tion of a manual brush but want the ef- ficacy of a power brush. Now available in stores, our partners in the professional community can introduce their patients to this breakthrough innovation.” To learn more about the Deep Sweep, visit www.dentalcare.com, or visit the Crest Oral-B booth (No. 605) in the ex- hibit hall at the Chicago Dental Society Midwinter Meeting. (Source: Crest Oral-B) The Oral-B Deep Sweep has a unique combination of sweeping and stationary bristles with a dynamic, angled power tip, creating triple-zone cleaning action that thoroughly cleans deep between teeth and gets to places that regular manual toothbrushes normally miss. Photos/Provided by Crest Oral-B ◊ TSUNAMI, page C1 PRODUCT NEWS Hygiene Tribune U.S. Edition | February 2012 ChiCago BooTh No. 605 See the new Oral-B Deep Sweep brush head at the Chicago Dental Society Midwinter Meeting.