Dental Hygiene

Dental Hygiene, a Brief History

Dr. Alfred Fones was a dental visionary from Connecticut.  He is considered to be the founding father of Dental Hygiene.  Dr. Fones foresaw the division of labor leading to an age of specialization. He founded the Fones School of Dental Hygiene in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Ms. Irene Newman was the first dental hygienist trained by him.. We very soon found that having a person other than the dentist in charge of the patients’ wellbeing enhanced the standard of care and led to an ever growing era of prevention. What must have transpired in Dr. Fones’s mind that he took such a novel approach?
A safe conjecture could be his recall of the age old adages he remembered from his grandma and mom. “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” Benjamin Franklin or “a stitch in time saves nine.” In 1915  the first class of dental hygienists graduated – the rest is history.
A great dental hygienist is a national asset. Let me explain why. The cost of healthcare goes from our national pocket, irrespective of who pays for it. Regular visits to a good hygienist prevent a lot of costly dental work while prolonging the life of existing dental work. Your teeth require the same attention as your hair and nails at least. Would you agree?

You are stardust!!
Every atom that comprises our body is the result of a cosmic collision. It is impossible to say how many different galactic particles make all of us – we are all unique. I am leading to a point. Any dentist or hygienist would tell you the extreme variance between our patients. Some patients develop calculus and plaque much more quickly than others. It is their unique feature as they have different salivary composition.
Hence we do not believe the insurance paradigm of two cleanings a year! The frequency of cleanings in our practice is determined by our hygienist based upon the patient’s individual need for care.

How is our Hygiene Department different?
In every way. Our hygienist is a highly conscientious professional with a gift of super gentle hands and a zeal for perfection. She is a thorough professional who believes in enhancing her skills and knowledge. We employ minimally invasive instruments with high adherence to hygiene and sterilization standards. All you have to do is call any existing patient of ours.

How we modify your brushing technique?

1. No cross-brushing please; do not scrub away your gums and teeth.
2. Toothpaste equal to a pea: the entire head of the toothbrush covered by paste end to end is very good for the manufacturer, not for you!

“Fast sense of security is mortal’s chief enemy.”

 - William Shakespeare

So what is the false sense of security you encounter when you brush your teeth? Here it goes:

1. A toothbrush held in the palm is a weapon (pen or paintbrush grip please).
2. A mouth full of foam is highly deceptive
3. Blind brushing can be harmful and you surely are missing critical areas.

If you had a diamond, would you clean it without visual attention? So why are teeth any different? The areas to focus on are the gum line and in between the teeth.

Your heart and gums:
Gum disease has been found to cause the liver to produce certain proteins which cause narrowing of the blood vessels of the heart. The health ramifications of gum disease are numerous and worthy of your attention. We will be happy to guide you to peer-reviewed literature upon request.