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effective home care industry news | (meaning we need to celebrate) or declined (meaning we need to make changes before there is irreversible damage). In addition, we incentivise patients by giv- ing tokens at each visit if they receive scores over a ‘3’. These tokens can be cashed in for merchandise or gift cards to their favorite stores or online sites. The tech- nology helps us engage our orthodontic patients in a fun way, and not surprisingly, adults enjoy ‘seeing’ their results just as much as kids do. Noticeable outcomes The OrthoEssentials kit contains four key products that work together to help achieve the outcomes we want. The Oral-B PRO 5000 Smart Series Power Tooth- brush with bluetooth technology with ortho brush head is a cornerstone of the kit. The Ortho brush head is specifically designed to clean around brackets and wires,2 which can be very challenging to manage with- out additional tools (Fig. 2). The toothbrush’s built-in technology enhances compliance with good brushing habits.3 Patients begin use by downloading a free app onto their mobile device (usually a phone), then sync their power brush to the app. Every time the patient brushes, the app receives brushing data, and the pa- tient gets immediate feedback on the mobile device screen. Using the built-in 2-minute timer, patients can see how long they have been brushing, and a red light ‘alert’ lets them know if they are using excessive force. On the mobile screen, the app provides information about the brushing mode, battery status, and a re- minder to change the toothbrush head. To keep the user experience fresh—and to keep kids checking in— the app also incorporates news, weather, and oral care tips. Additionally, the Focused Care feature can be cus- tomised to show areas of the mouth that need special attention, so the patient can brush those areas again after the regular 2-minute brushing is complete. Crest Pro-Health toothpaste contains stannous fluoride—an active ingredient well-known to protect against plaque, gingivitis, cavities, dietary acid ero- sion, and sensitivity.4 Regular use of this paste has been clinically shown to inhibit plaque build-up be- tween brushings.5 The Crest Pro-Health Advanced with Extra Deep Clean Mouthwash offers additional anti-cavity fluoride protection. Oral-B Superfloss has a stiffened end floss threader that helps patients (par- ticularly kids) easily thread floss under the braces wires. The four components of the OrthoEssentials Kit work together to keep the teeth and gums protected and healthy. We recommend that patients brush in the morning, after lunch if possible, and then thor- oughly before bed. The most important session is a very careful brushing right before bed (with, of course, no food or drinks afterwards). The combina- tion of mechanical brushing and flossing plus chem- ical paste and rinse action helps to reduce plaque build-up and protect against cavities. This regimen of oral hygiene provides excellent care for patients with- out braces as well. Enabling compliance Compliance with a proven oral care regimen is essential to successful orthodontic outcomes. If a pa- tient is not able or willing to maintain good oral care, the braces may have to be removed and treatment de- layed until he or she is able to comply, so we do everything possible to set patients up for success. Technique is very important; we show our patients from the very beginning how to use each component in the kit, and we review their technique whenever we see that oral hygiene is slipping. If a patient has certain areas they are struggling with, we can use the built-in technology to programme these areas into a diagram on their mobile device app. By working with a cell phone and the Bluetooth-enabled toothbrush, the app provides immediate feedback dur- ing home care. With these tools, the patient can con- tinue to work on trouble areas between scheduled ap- pointments and receive feedback on their progress. Supported by clinical evidence As a practitioner, I am very evidence-based, so I feel comfortable recommending ‘proven products’ to my patients that involve the most cutting edge technol- ogy available. Some patients appreciate knowing about the clinical data behind the products we rec- ommend. For patients who are not ‘wowed’; by clini- cal evidence, they usually just want to know what products I use at home. I would not recommend the programme if I did not personally believe in it. Conclusion In the end, orthodontic treatment is not just about positioning the teeth and improving looks, it is also about better functioning and oral health. Patients are expecting a certain ‘look; when their braces are re- moved—beautiful, white, shiny teeth and tight pink gums—and their routine oral hygiene directly affects that outcome. We know that kids and adults are busy —so we have implemented a programme that fits into the busiest of schedules. The OrthoEssentials pro- gramme has been a game-changer for our practice, di- rectly leading to better outcomes for our patients._ Editorial note: A list of references is available from the publisher. Fig. 2: Ortho brush head contact As an orthodontist, Dr Van Elslande has specialised training in orthodontics. She received her Bachelor of Medical Science, Doctor of Dental Surgery degree and her Masters in Clinical Orthodontics from the University of Alberta. www.smilezone.ca ortho 1 2017 39