Today has been interesting in clinic... We learned how to polish. In class yesterday we learned about how polishing is purely a cosmetic thing, and has little health benefit! It is used to remove stain, not clean the teeth. The big problem is that most patients expect polish, and even don't feel that the treatment is complete without polishing. This is a big dilemma in the dental world because most dentists and hygienists know that polishing teeth can take off enamel, yet it remains a routine part of most dental treatment.
Today we compared the toothbrush polish to the prophy-cup polish, and actually, I think i did a better job brushing Candace's teeth than I did polishing them... Maybe because it was my first time polishing though?? I can definitely see why hygienists would polish in private practice--especially because of the ease, and the saved time and wind (from explaining :))! haha... Anyway, I definitely don't want to lose my enamel, and if I knew that I could, I don't think I would want my teeth polished at EVERY dental appointment. I'd like to educate my patients and give them the option of both in the future!
What would you choose?? Keep your enamel, or have your teeth polished when you don't really have stain in the first place??
That.. is the question
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment