From the Executive Director of the ADIA

Dear Colleagues,

My inbox has been overflowing with ads for new hygiene products that will be unveiled at the Greater New York Dental Meeting. It reminds me how important it is to evaluate the products we recommend based on patient need, not corporate marketing strategies.

Good oral hygiene is essential to the long-term success of dental implants. So what really works best? I hear this question often from the patients in our practice. My answer is a firm, “It depends on your specific needs.” I think we need to examine some of the considerations before giving patients a solid answer. Remember, oral hygiene aids and instruction should be specific to each patient’s needs and ability. What needs must we consider? What type of prosthesis does the patient possess; is it temporized, is there a permanent crown, bridge, or over-denture in place? How large is the embrasure space? Is there a ridge-lap? Are there any anatomic limitations?

Identify the prosthesis design adequacies and insufficiencies, as well as the location of any implants, pontics, and abutment teeth. How well is the patient doing with his or her present oral hygiene procedures? Is there an abundance of plaque and calcareous deposits, or is there just one area that’s a trouble spot? Evaluate the patient’s dexterity and commitment to daily, routine home care. What are the patient’s desires? Is the patient concerned about effectively cleaning his or her oral cavity? Ask patients what their biggest challenge is to keeping their mouth clean. It may be misinformation or lack of time. How well does the patient understand plaque and its deleterious effect in the oral cavity? Educate patients about why they need specialized care to perform their best in their oral hygiene routine. Do patients understand their role in the process, or do they leave all the work to you? Motivate patients to want to perform the absolute best practices to maintain their teeth, implants, and prosthesis.

I hope this review is useful as you evaluate new products on the market and the things you currently recommend.

Lynn Mortilla
Executive Director, ADIA