Things your Patients are Talking About: Smile Direct Club

We all know the ins and outs of Invisalign- initial radiographs, follow up appointments, impressions, photos, post op instructions, oral health education. This list goes on and on. And because of that, it can be pricey. And as we all know, patients love the cheapest options for their oral health.

In comes Smile Direct Club- an affordable option to Invisalign. Sounds perfect, right? Though it is cheaper and sounds like the dream treatment, it definitely is not.

First, the patient never has to set foot in a dental or orthodontic office. Sounds perfect, right? This can cause MAJOR problems for the patient since they never have to have their periodontal health checked, radiographs exposed and roots evaluated, or decay treated that could worsen with any kind of orthodontic treatment. Instead of going to an office, the patient takes their own photos with their phone and take impressions with a mail in kit. They do not require a bite registration with their evaluation.

Second, it is the same price for everyone. After the impressions and photos are sent to the company, they evaluate if the patient is a candidate for their treatment for a fee of $95. If the patient does qualify for the treatment, is it a flat fee of $150, no matter how many trays they need. Also, if only the maxillary qualify, it is the same price.

Third, occlusion and TMJ issues are not included in the treatment planning. This could cause major problems down the road, and cost a lot more money to fix the problems than the original price that an orthodontist would charge.

And fourth, the company does not directly work with insurance. The patient is responsible for all the upfront costs. Then, they are are to work with their insurance for reimbursement. Since they are a few company and not a typical way for orthodontic treatment, there is no guarantee insurance companies will pay anything for the treatment. 

So, if a patient brings up an "teeth straightening procedure that they saw on Pinterest", you'll hopefully know a little bit more about how to educate your patients on this new company.

What are your patients talking to you about? Let us know below!

Handscaling Ortho Demonstration

I am sure all of you seasoned hygienists out there know the ropes of cleaning ortho well! Here is a little review for those needing a refresher, or those just learning. Thanks for viewing. 

My Ortho Experience

As we celebrate Ortho Month here on Hygiene Edge, I wanted to share my experience in hopes to make braces wearing a more enjoyable experience. I have had braces TWICE. Once as an awkward adolescent and once as an awkward adult in braces.

Thanks to inheriting my father’s large teeth (thank’s Dad) and my mother’s small mouth, I was an orthodontist’s dream. As an adolescent I was severely self conscious of my buck teeth and wanted this braces thing to be over as soon as possible. After consulting with my orthodontist, it was decided that I would have 4 premolars extracted in order to make room for my teeth and to hopefully correct my class II bite. I was in braces 3 years. I hadn’t learned the discipline of wearing my rubber bands consistently and would quadruple band with a side of Advil for a week before my appointments in order to show some progress. I was not consistent, my hygiene was floss-less and I tried to make my braces as inconspicuous as possible, always wearing grey bands. I had failed at this braces thing and didn’t really know it.

The sporadic rubber band wearing backfired over time. Years later when I was working in the dental field I noticed that my bite was still class II and I had a “black triangle” between #8 and #9 that I wanted corrected. I decided to go to multiple orthodontists for evaluation. It became clear that in order to correct my bite and close that black triangle I was sentenced to jaw surgery and 2 years of braces wearing at the age of 26. This was a new opportunity to do braces right!

When I was an adolescent, my braces were a boring, awful experience. I had done braces wrong. This time I was going to enjoy this braces thing. Gratefully I was in Dental Hygiene school at the time and was introduced to the Oral B Pro 1000 mechanical toothbrush. I used the Power Tip brush and Ortho brush attachment to clean around my braces. The Power Tip brush allowed me to clean where the wire attached to the bracket without hurting my papilla. The Ortho attachment helped me clean above and below my brackets without needing any ninja moves. My teeth had never been cleaner! I also was motivated to floss knowing my fellow students would be peering at my teeth. Flossing was not my favorite pastime as it took FOREVER (I hadn’t heard about GumChucks yet) so, I added my beloved WaterPik water flosser to my hygiene arsenal. I decided that my braces needed pizazz this time and took every opportunity to change my band color to anything outrageous. I decided to have fun with them!

Looking back at my braces experience, I am glad that I was given a second chance. As a Dental Hygienist, I feel I can empathize with and inspire those unmotivated adolescents and I can also encourage those hesitant adults in getting braces. Adults with braces rock and they are much better at wearing their rubber bands consistently! Well, at least I was. I have noted my favorite products that helped me have a better braces experience. I’d love to know what products have been game changers for you and your braces wearing loved ones.

Flossing with Platypus Flosser

One Of My Best Tips For Efficient Ortho Prophys

Remember to enter our giveaway of a complete GumChucks kit HERE

Ugh. Your 30 min child prophy just showed up, right after school lunch, with a new full set of braces. This is about the time when I USED to shed a little tear as I knew I was going be be put behind in my schedule. Now when I have this scenario, I am excited for the change of routine and can complete it in the time provided. (Feel free however to schedule extra time at the next prophy visit if needed.) Here’s is the time frame ESTIMATION by minute:

• 1m-HH
• 4m-Radiographs (if needed)
• 2m-Brush the patient's teeth/OHE
• 10m-Polish, ultrasonic, hand instrumentation
• 3m-Flossing
• 5m-Exam
• 1m-Fluoride
• 4m-Dismissal/room turnaround

One of my personal biggest time savers to stay on the above schedule on an ortho patient is to disclose, hand them a mirror, and then have the patient watch me brush their teeth. This will give you a good head start on removal of materia alba and biofilm, which these patients usually have lots of, and at the same time you are doing OHE. I love a good BOGO (Brush One Get OHE). You could have the patient brush their teeth over the sink as well but I find that they take longer and still miss those hard to reach areas.

I used to hate flossing braces, as threading the floss through each time was a killer! Some time saving tips on braces are to use an ortho flosser such as the sterilizable handle from the company GumChucks with an ORTHOgami attachment, or you could use the platypus flosser or fish floss. Find one that works best for you by requesting some samples. 

Stay tuned in over the next few weeks to come as we have some videos on how to be more proficient  with the air powder polisher, ultrasonic and hand instruments on patients with ortho.