A nervous but lovely lady in her early 70s was referred to have her periodontal health managed prior to starting bisphosphonate medication.
She presented with generalised severe periodontal disease . Her oral hygiene was very poor with large deposits of plaque that can be seen in the photos. Her teeth were severely crowded which made cleaning more difficult. She used a manual toothbrush but did not use interdental brushes.
During her first appointment, she was shown how to clean her teeth effectively. All the spaces were sized for perfect fitting interdental brushes and a brush chart given. The patient was advised and shown the use of The Precision Brush in addition to her manual brush, which she preferred over an electric brush.
She was seen 2 weeks later for professional treatment and the results were already looking promising. There was minimal plaque deposits. Calculus which was previously not evident, was now visible and easy to clean off with professional treatment. The brushes were resized and was expected bigger brushes were required owing to improvement in her gum health.
A final review was done 2 months later and a vast improvement in gum health can be noticed.
This case highlights the importance of good daily oral care in the maintenance of oral health. With the right tools and guidance, effective oral care can be performed by anyone even in challenging dental circumstances. The case also questions the emphasis on electric toothbrushes to achieve oral health. Studies have shown that whilst electric brushes can improve oral hygiene they are not necessarily better than manual toothbrushes.