Over the past year in clinic, there have been several
instances when I was asked by patients which toothpaste, toothbrush, or dental
gizmo I would recommend. At first, I was caught off guard. I, myself a dental
student, don’t even know what toothpaste I’m using half of the time (I usually
use whatever is at home or on sale). Over time, these questions became more
common and required me to have a better answer for my patients. Pre-clinic and
classes do an adequate job of preparing us for clinic, but some parts, like
patient recommendations, are left out.
The most common question I have been asked has been the use
of a power toothbrush versus a manual one, followed by the use of an automated
flosser over traditional flossing. Having used only a manual toothbrush and
traditional floss, I never knew how to answer these questions. I usually went
one of two ways: Either share my oral hygiene routine with the patient or
repeat what I have heard other student dentists tell their patients.
Recently, Waterpik and Sonicare both conducted lunch and
learns at Midwestern University School of Dentistry. This was a great
opportunity to learn about the two products, and to be more aware of all the
different dental products available to us. As dental students, we have ample
resources to help guide us in performing clinical procedures. In this case, I
realized that lunch and learns conducted by ethical manufacturers present
valuable opportunities to learn about other important parts of our lives as
dental caregivers. There are also ample resources available online, such as
evidence-based articles, reviews, and websites such as THENEXTDDS, to support
us as future practitioners.
Throughout our career, we will face many challenges. It’s
important to realize that we have multiple resources available to supplement
our classroom learning and put to use chairside. The more we use these
resources and become better educated on dental products, consumables, and
at-home treatments, the more knowledgeable we then become to suggest products
that are tailor-made for each patient.