A few words from Shermance!
As most of you know, I am selective on my polishing, both on who needs it and on which teeth. I try to explain to each person the reasons behind this, but when I saw the article on polishing published by the Texas Dental Hygienists’ Association, I knew I had to share! Hope this helps you with your decisions to polish or not. Thank you for your trust in me!
I have always been amazed at how the field of dentistry continually evolves and improves for the benefits of patients. It’s true – from treatment techniques to our technologies and instruments, the many different areas within oral health care never cease to become more advanced, effective, comfortable, and beneficial! This is because patients always come first, and as we learn new ways of improving their care, so our field as a whole is improved.
We often find that what we once thought beneficial and helpful for patients may turn out to no longer hold true. For instance, in the past, tooth polishing was considered an integral piece of a patient’s complete cleaning procedure. In fact, many patients believed that to have their teeth polished was to have them cleaned!
In today’s more advanced dental field, this is no longer the case! A good deal of study has shown that polishing is seen as a “cosmetic procedure” that “is not necessary for the maintenance of oral health or prevention of oral disease.”
Further, because of its abrasive nature, regular polishing can actually lead to a diminishing of the ever-so-important enamel that naturally protects your teeth! This means that polishing can actually increase your risk of further oral health problems – and this is precisely the last thing we want for you at Trade Winds Dental.
It is important for me to make sure our patients know that there is no real benefit to polishing, aside from helping to remove very heavy stains, and that the procedure can be harmful over time. Of course, a great way to avoid the conversation altogether is to remind our patients how important good brushing and flossing is for their teeth!
We are always here to talk to you more about great oral health techniques, and what we are doing to improve the care you receive each and every time you come to see us – please don’t hesitate to ask!