HYGIENE TRIBUNE The World’s Dental Hygiene Newspaper · U.S. Edition www.dental-tribune.com March 2010 Vol. 3, No. 2 Offering patients information about orthodontic treatment will help the practice By Keverly Sugden, RDH, BASDH How can hygienists ‘straighten up’? and the benefit of orthodontic treatment to their patients. Many orthodontists offer seminars to hygienists and this is a great way to learn about new techniques in orthodontics. Many general dentists are offering Invisalign® to their patients, and this is another awesome opportunity for hygienists to learn about orthodontics. Dentists and orthodontists have to be certified to perform Invisalign treatment. More than 70 percent of U. S. orthodontists offer Invisalign. Invisalign treatment involves clear, customized aligners that can straighten teeth with fewer visits than traditional orthodontics. The aligners are unnoticable, comfortable, removable and effective. One thing patients always ask about is time and price. Traditional orthodontics can take between 15 and 30 months and Invisalign takes 9 to 15 months. There are many types of systems available for traditional orthodontics. Orthodontic patients can now customize their look with multicolored bands, g HT page 3B Hygienists are the health drivers for the dental practice. We are very fortunate to be able to create lasting relationships with our patients. We see our patients many times per year. At each visit, we perform comprehensive oral cancer examinations, thorough periodontal examinations and caries screenings. We listen to our patients’ questions, educate and motivate. We recommend and explain treatment and listen to our patients’ wants and desires. Many patients want straight, white teeth, but they do not discuss this with the dentist. The hygienist can open up a dialogue with the patient about desired treatment by asking a few simple questions. When you ask the patient, “Would you like straighter teeth?” this can lead to much information about the patient and his or her dental desires. Hygienists understand proper occlusion and can identify malocclusion and explain this to the patient. Dental hygienists play a very important role in identifying patients that require orthodontic treatment, and we are often the first ones to recognize when a patient has an orthodontic problem. We often see the havoc that improper alignment and crowding have on a patient’s overall oral health. Ortho 101 The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that all children receive orthodontic check-ups no later than age 7. An early orthodontic checkup enables the orthodontist to determine if permanent teeth will be crowded and result in bite problems. Early treatment can preserve or create space for erupting teeth and correct harmful oral habits. Hygienists need to understand orthodontic appliances and technologies so they can effectively explain treatment New CD-ROM educates patients about oral hygiene The National Museum of Dentistry has partnered with United Concordia to distribute the MouthPower oral health education CD-ROM Fred Michmershuizen, Online Editor Everyone could use a reminder now and then about the importance of good oral hygiene. To that end, the National Museum of Dentistry, located in Baltimore, has partnered with United Concordia Dental to produce a CD-ROM version of the museum’s popular MouthPower oral health education program. The CD-ROM, which is modeled on the museum’s MouthPower online program, is designed to assist dentists and hygienists in educating their patients about the benefits of good oral health. It will be distributed to 45,000 United Concordia participating dentists nationwide, as well as to those who request the program through the museum. “The secret to a healthy smile is simple – taking good care of your teeth,” said National Museum of Dentistry Executive Director Jonathan Landers, in a press release announcing the CD-ROM. “The MouthPower program shows kids how to do that in a fun and educational way.” The program features the “chatterteeth” character, Mouthie, in an interactive laboratory, where children can learn how to brush and floss, make smart food choices and steer clear of the pitfalls of tobacco. The CD-ROM includes easy-touse, bilingual lessons and fun activity sheets that will help children learn good oral health habits. “We are excited to partner with the National Museum of Dentistry to share this outstanding oral health education program with our participating dentists,” said Karen A. Whitesel, United Concordia Dental corporate vice president of professional relations. “Our hope is that this exciting tool will help dentists teach their young patients lifelong habits that maintain healthy smiles.” The National Museum of Dentistry’s MouthPower oral health education program teaches children about good oral health around the world through its online game (available in English and Spanish at www.mouth- power.org), across the country in a popular traveling exhibit and on site at the museum in Baltimore in a hands-on exhibit. The program is also being adapted to be used with Head Start programs in Baltimore and as a mentoring program for Girl Scouts. United Concordia Dental Headquartered in Harrisburg, Pa., United Concordia Dental is one of the nation’s largest dental insurers, with nearly 8 million members worldwide and 2008 revenues of $1.4 billion. The National Museum of Dentistry The Dr. Samuel D. Harris National Museum of Dentistry, an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, is a lively national center where visitors discover the power of a healthy smile and the rich history of dentistry. Designated by Congress as the official museum of the dental profession in the United States, the museum’s collection of 40,000 objects tells the story of dentistry through changing and traveling exhibits, school tours and family days. Highlights include George Washington’s lower denture, Queen Victoria’s personal dental instruments and an extraordinary collection of toothbrushes ranging from the 1800s to the present. Call (410) 706-0600 or visit www.smile-experence.org for more information. HT