Electric Toothbrush Recommendations with Oral-B iO
Recently, we attended the Oral-B iO Virtual Launch Event, and they shared interesting research about patients and their perceptions of electric toothbrushes. Right now, patients think that oral health and overall health are related. However, they don’t necessarily think that oral health prevention is a key to keeping them healthy overall. And interestingly, they often see an electric toothbrush as something for patients that have a problem, instead of an instrument to help prevent oral diseases like carious lesions or periodontal disease. But, the more I thought about it, the more it makes sense. Let’s compare it to going to the hairdresser. If I was getting my hair done, and my stylist mentions I should be using something to prevent dryness, I would agree and forget about it. Later at the store, I’ll remember she mentioned something, I’ll head to the hair care aisle, and be completely confused on what I should be getting, what’s the best product to prevent dryness, and end up not buying anything. Our patients are doing the exact same thing!
Here are a few tips to help you educate your patients on electric toothbrushes.
Be specific in your recommendation, naming a brand they should purchase. You might also want to mention a specific brush head and store to buy it at. This takes away all the guesswork, making it easier for your patient to act on your recommendation.
Give a short demo in your op. Show the patient what they’re missing out on. If they’ve never felt or seen an electric toothbrush in real life, they might be hesitant to invest in one.
Come from a place of love & not the place of a salesperson. When you’re talking about a product, make sure you’re not coming at it as a salesperson, but as a product the patient needs.You know your patients, their needs, and have insight into their life. Make recommendations based on this context and what would best benefit the patient.
We’re excited for you to start talking more about electric toothbrushes if you don’t love to right now! Or, if you do and your office sells them, what do you usually tell your patients about them?
A big thank you to Crest+Oral-B for inviting us to the Virtual Launch of the Oral-B iO! We loved learning about this new product, hearing the updates and new technology, and meeting with so many amazing dental professionals at the same time. Some of our favorite features of this brush are
The new screen. This screen makes it easy to make sure you or your patient is brushing for the full 2 minutes, and gives an instant smiley face reward when they do.
The new linear magnetic drive system. It delivers concentrated energy to the tips of the bristles where it’s needed most, allowing the brush head to glide tooth by tooth for a smooth, quiet cleaning experience.