Dentální hygiena

USA Style Dental Hygiene

The hygiene department at Dr. Mahoney’s International Dental Clinic is focused on maintaining the health of your gums and teeth. Our highly-skilled hygienist offers a range of hygiene services supported by patient education and product advice to help achieve this goal. Our aim is prevention and protection through regular hygiene appointments supported by dental examinations.

The hygienist followed a very different path to becoming an English language hygienist in the Czech Republic. After successfully becoming one of the first of the Czech Republic’s American Mentored Dental Assistants at American Dental Associates (now American Dental) she earned her degree in Hygiene and became one of the first USA hygienists in Prague. This style was originally introduced in the east by American Medical Centres and American Dental Associates in Prague and Moscow. Now with experience in all phases of periodontal care she can offer her patients professional treatment including laser, Ozone and tooth whitening systems as required.

USA hygiene usually takes one and a half hours. The price is "all inclusive" and we do not charge extra for things like airflow, Prophyflex (sandblasting), mineralization, polishing or fluoride treatment. It is one of the best in Prague and this is the difference at Dr. Mahoney’s International Dental Clinic.

What is Dental Hygiene?

Dr. Mahoney’s dental clinic offers a hygiene service to remove dental plaque and tartar from teeth to prevent cavities, gingivitis, and gum disease. Severe gum disease causes at least one-third of adult tooth loss. Nowadays, dentists recommend that teeth be cleaned professionally at least twice a year. Cleaning is a professional and full USA cleaning. Between cleanings by a dental hygienist, good oral hygiene is essential for preventing tartar build-up which causes the problems mentioned here. Making your teeth look and feel good makes you more confident and that is all a part of being healthy.

Background about Dental Hygiene

Periodontal disease is a major oral health problem and reportedly affects more than 80% of our adult population. If left untreated periodontitis often causes tooth loss and that is a burden for us in many ways. Today periodontitis is also an emerging risk factor for a number of major systemic diseases or medical conditions. These include strokes, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and pre-term low-birth weight babies. Prevention of and early intervention into periodontal disease is very important. Oral hygiene and its education are paramount to all stages and also times of treatment.

Please remember that as well as the professional care, successful management of periodontal disease depends on your oral self care and attention. It is common that a change in your attitude, habits and behavior is sometimes necessary when treating periodontitis. Your hygienist and doctor will give you a useful guide in planning effective oral health care for a better smile.

What is a Hygienist?

Dental hygienists are licensed oral health professionals who focus on preventing and treating oral diseases in order to protect the mouth (oral or buccal cavity) and to protect the patients' overall health. They are graduates of accredited dental hygiene education programs in colleges and universities, and they must pass a written national board examination and a clinical examination to obtain a recognized license.

Dental Hygiene Methods

A lot of studies and research into dental hygiene have been done all over the world. They all are conclusive that the USA dental hygiene system is the best, quite simply because it is the most thorough. Usually one and a half hours long, at Dr. Mahoney’s International Dental Clinic patients even with chronic periodontitis are treated successfully. Pre-tested patient dental problems in Prague and abroad found there are three main categories of concern to us all: oral hygiene, dietary habits and our perception of oral conditions. The conclusion is that we all need dental hygiene. So, to plan effective treatment and to encourage patient self-care, we first talk to our patients and collect basic information about self-care behavior. Because we live in a busy world and have limited time available nowadays there is a need to book appointments for concise assessment and regular hygiene checkups and hygiene appointments at least every six months as recommended by the US and UK Dental Councils. Some people prefer to have hygiene every three months. At Dr. Daniela Mahoney’s Dental Clinic an easy and reliable recall system is available if you want it.

More than just a Scale and Polish

Our hygienists are highly skilled and will professionally clean your teeth using all the latest techniques and top quality pastes and polishes to remove any plaque and tartar, which cannot be removed by brushing or flossing alone. At our quiet practice we also use intra-oral cameras, which can detect more and show you the patient exactly what is going on, if you want. These latest special intra oral magnifying cameras can show you and staff all the different angles of your teeth and gums on a large screen built into the most modern ergonomic design dental chair.

All our patients comment how good they feel and how much smoother their teeth are after a good cleaning. In addition to an ultrasonic scale and polish you also receive the latest prophyflex power clean, which fires a jet of compressed air, water and fine sodium bicarbonate particles at the surface of your teeth to remove debris and polish the surfaces. It cleans your teeth thoroughly removing any superficial stains giving you an instantly whiter smile without bleaching.

At Dr. Mahoney’s International Dental Clinic in Prague, our hygienist educates you on the correct technique of brushing, flossing and give you advice on how to maintain a good oral health routine to maintain a healthy smile.

The truth about Fluoride Treatment

Fluoride is the most effective agent available to help prevent tooth decay. It is a mineral that is naturally present in varying amounts in almost all foods and water supplies. The benefits of fluoride have been well known for over 50 years and are supported by many health and professional organizations. At our dental practice we only use the latest top quality fluoride.

Fluoride basically works in two ways. Topical flouride strengthens grown teeth (and erupted ones) by seeping into the outer surface of the tooth enamel. This makes the teeth much more resistant to decay. Everyday we receive topical fluoride by using dental products (toothpastes, mouth rinses and gels, etc) that contain it. Dentists, dental hygienists and dental associations recommend that children have a professional application of fluoride twice a year as well as and during dental check-ups. Systemic flouride strengthens the teeth that have grown (come out or erupted) as well as those that are still developing under the gums. We get systemic fluoride from most foods and most water supplies. It is also available as a supplement in a drop or gel form and can also be prescribed by your dentist or doctor. Fluoride drops are recommended for infants and tablets are best suited for children up and through the teenage years. However, it is very important to monitor the amounts of fluoride children take. Children should not take too much while teeth are growing, because flourosis (white spots on the teeth) can develop. Please contact your dentist or hygienist for advice if you find any.

Although we normally get fluoride daily from food and water, sometimes it is not enough to help prevent decay. Your dentist or dental hygienist may recommend the use of home and or professional fluoride treatments for the following reasons: a history of dental decay, deep pits and fissures on the teeth’s chewing surfaces, exposed and sensitive root surfaces, inadequate flows of saliva due to medicines, medical conditions or treatments.

What is Airflow and Kavo Prophylex?

Airflow system is a great modern treatment that gives you much whiter teeth without the dentist seeing or touching them. It works with the combined power of three things: air, sodium bicarbonate and a jet of water. At our dental practice de-scaling is done prior and the Airflow produces great results without any risk of damage to your teeth. The results are immediate and you feel and see the difference on completion. You walk out into the world knowing that your teeth have never looked better.

What is Scaling?

There seems to be a misconception in dentistry that causes confusion for patients trying to understand the difference between "just a cleaning", scaling and root planing perio-dontal treatment. Thedental hygienist is trained in periodontal gum disease treatments, which we do not refer to the more expensive endodontist unless necessary for further work. We can fix your mild periodontal problems.

Scaling (and Root Planing) is a special type of treatment to remove contaminated debris, pus, tartar and hard crusty calculus (full of bacteria) which is around and also below the gum line. A professional polishing and Prophylex air flow removes the soft plaque that is above the gum line, which prevents and treats gum disease due to pockets forming around the teeth (normally bigger than 3mm). The procedure of scaling meticulously removes contamination toxins, micro-organisms, plaque, tartar, cementum, dentin (that is rough and or permeated by calculus from around) below and under the gum line down to the bottom of the unfortunately formed pocket. The result of removing the biofilm, calculus and toxin and all is healing. We do it with total care and the latest 2010 ultrasonic equipment and medicaments. Our Hygiene is one of the best in Prague (and probably the most cost effective).

More at Dr. Mahoney’s Dental Hygiene Dept.

The dental hygienist are also trained in non surgical periondontical procedures such as the root planing treatment of gum disease and treatments with sealants.

What is Root Planing?

The hygienists at the dental clinic are trained in some periodontal treatments (gum disease treatment), which we do not refer to the more expensive endodontist’s department. Root planing is one and is a therapeutic (designed to heal) treatment. Depending on the case, it can sometimes be time consuming. The treatment removes toxins (poisons) and bacteria from the teeth’s root surfaces. Periodontal (gum and bone) disease can be treated with root planning successfully and without too much pain. Removing toxins allows the body’s immune system to begin the healing process for not only the teeth, but for your body. Calculus (tartar, diseased cementum, and dentin) are also eradicated. Cementum is the hard tissue that covers the root’s teeth. Dentin is the part of the tooth that is underneath the cementum. These procedures are used as complete treatment in some stages of periodontal disease, and as part of preparing the mouth for surgery in others.

You may need more than one appointment; some people need it, some not, but it is very important to keep daily oral health care to ensure that you are doing the best you can for the life of your teeth. A painless local anesthetic may be required. The root planing process is the smoothing of the root surfaces of your teeth with thin periodontal curettes (dental instruments) to enable gum tissue to firmly re-attach to the roots (that are now clean and smooth). This prevents further tooth loss and any sensitivity. The procedure also makes it more difficult for plaque to accumulate along the root surfaces in the future. This procedure is done with our ultrasonic equipment that both scales and medicates your gum tissue.

Root planning (and scaling to a certain degree) control the growth of harmful bacteria (bacteria below the gum are much more harmful), helps gums and the pocket wall re-attach firmly to the now very clean (spotless root surface to help prevent any loss of teeth, prevents further bleeding of gums, reduces gum swelling, reduces discomfort, decreases tooth sensitivity (due to gum recession), prevents loss of bone and stops tooth loss due to gum diseases.

Sealants are thin plastic coatings applied to chewing surfaces of molars, premolars (back teeth) and any other deep grooves (fissures, pits) found in teeth. More than 75% of dental decay begins in these deep grooves. Teeth with these conditions are sometimes harder to clean and are very susceptible to decay. A sealant protects the tooth by sealing the deep groove and creating a smooth surface that is easy to clean and maintain. Baby teeth occasionally have deep grooves or depressions and the child can be cavity prone. As soon as the six-year molars (the first permanent back teeth) appear for children and teenagers (6 to 16 years) they are at risk. Adults tooth surfaces without decay can have deep grooves or depressions. Sealants can protect teeth from decay for many years, but need to be checked for wear and tear and chipping at regular dental visits.

What do sealants involve?

Sealants are easily applied by your dentist or our dental hygienists and the process takes only a couple of minutes per tooth. The teeth to be sealed are thoroughly cleaned and then surrounded with cotton to keep the area dry. A special solution is applied to the enamel surface to help the sealant bond to the teeth. The teeth are then rinsed and dried. Sealant material is then carefully painted onto the enamel surface to cover the deep grooves or depressions. At Dr. Mahoney’s International Dental Clinic in Prague we use the latest top quality sealants that allow them to harden automatically and quickly. Proper home care, a balanced diet and regular dental visits will aid in the life of your new sealants.

Some Home Tips

Maintaining a good standard of dental hygiene can keep your mouth healthy and prevent a lifetime of costly and unpleasant dental problems. Nearly all dental disease can be prevented by carrying out a few small but very important cleaning procedures each day. The saying: “look after your teeth and gums and they will last you a lifetime” is very true.

The two most important things to remember in maintaining a good standard of dental hygiene are brushing and flossing. ‘Brushing teeth’ has actually been in existence for over 3000 years since Egyptian times. In those days people used leaves on the end of twigs and the action was basically the same as today. They realised that by keeping teeth clean and free of debris that they do last longer. The Egyptians may have not understood exactly why, but they knew it worked. Today we know that brushing helps to remove plaque, a bacteria rich substance that sticks to the surface of the teeth and gums. The decaying bacteria in plaque contain acid that erodes the enamel on teeth’s surfaces. This causes cavities to form in the enamel. If left untreated these cavities continue to grow and will penetrate to the centre of the tooth. The central cavity can then become infected, which leads to toothache, abscesses and eventually tooth loss. It is recommended by brushing for three minutes twice a day with a good and suitable brush and toothpaste; you can prevent the buildup of cavity forming plaque and the formation of any dental cavities.

Flossing is very important for your dental hygiene. Flossing reaches the parts of teeth that regular brushes do not and cannot. For example, debris from food gets trapped between your teeth and the gap is too narrow for a normal brush. Dental floss can remove this debris, which is the cause for over 90 % of bad breath. Flossing also helps to clean below the gum line, where bacteria build up. This helps to keep gums healthy and prevent painful and destructive gingivitis (gum disease).

By doing these and having the all important checkups with a hygienist at least every six months you can help prevent future dental problems and concerns. An extra few minutes every day for personal dental hygiene is a small price to pay for a life free of worry and pain caused by dental diseases.

Regular dental check-ups and examinations are a must and they form the basis of preventative dental care. However, please remember that even with a perfect oral hygiene routine at home, you can still develop dental problems that you may not be able to find by yourself.

Preventive Care is about preventing tooth decay, gum disease and halitosis (bad breath). At Dr. Mahoney’s International Dental Clinic we are here to help. Learning what causes you to have dental problems; training people in home care techniques that will effectively help them prevent dental disease; routine examinations to prevent little problems from becoming big problems (include checking for cavities, gum problems, oral cancer, headache and TMJ problems); thorough cleanings with our dental hygienist (fluoride treatments and periodontal maintenance are also part of preventive care when needed) and dietary counseling if needed is all part of the job.

Something more for you

You and your family receive free check ups with the dentist and panoramic x-rays on the first visit. We will give you a through oral examination, with free oral cancer screening (coming soon) as standard on your first visit. We strongly believe in the motto: prevention is better than cure and recommend an examination at least every 6 months and ideally 3 months to ensure problems are caught early on and treated when they need a "little fix," instead of waiting until it hurts and a more drastic and costly solution is required.

Dental Hygiene recall sytem

We can contact you any way you prefer, so you can have a good cleaning twice a year as recommended by international dental authorities. Protect your whole family with hygiene: by helping to prevent bacteria breeding with regular cleanings you are protected against the buildup of caries and decay. Your teeth will be fresher and live longer.

The English language dental Hygientist is committed to the job, the development of patient hygiene, ethical practice and the moral integrity of the treatment of each patient is the goal at our dental clinic in Prague. They provide advice and instruction about personal hygiene and dental care planning. They are dedicated, experienced professionals. You can look forward to the visit providing you with the best US treatment and most current and relevant information available.

All inclusive, no hidden extras, everything does matter.