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Back to School Shopping by Trisha O’Hehir

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This time of year is traditionally when many kids go back to school, making it the time to stock up on school supplies. That used to mean notebooks, pencils, pens and backpacks, but today's students include technology on their list. Just as the back to school shopping list has changed for kids today, so has the list for today's dental hygienists. Not too long ago, it was a prophy angle and a couple of scalers, but now the list of items available to provide patients with high-quality care and comfort for the clinician is much more in depth. Here are a few of the things you may want on your dental hygiene shopping list this year.





Boomer the Foot Mouse by Dental R.A.T.

The original Dental R.A.T., designed by dental hygienist Becky Logue, provided hands-free foot control to record periodontal probing depths. The newest design is Boomer the Foot Mouse, which can do so much more. It also opens X-ray files, checks the schedule, runs the intra-oral camera and anything else that is needed to do without touching the hand mouse.

Isolite for hygienists

This isolation device provides a bite block, hand-free suction and is a light, all-in-one device. Two channels of suction keep the mouth dry and control water from the power scaler or dust from air polishing. The light illuminates teeth and tissue, making it easier to see while you work.

Satelec Air-N-Go Dual Purpose Air Polisher

This lightweight handpiece has tips for both supragingival air polishing to remove biofilm and stain and subgingival air polishing for biofilm removal around teeth and implants. With the flip of a switch, the air polisher is converted to an air water syringe. Air polishing is the new, more effective way to remove subgingival biofilm.

Glycine Air Polishing Powders

Now that a subgingival tip is available for air polishing, a new powder is needed that is gentle on the root surface and the gingival tissues. Glycine is the powder of choice for this task in North America. Satalec offers Perio Air-N-Go glycine air polishing powder. EMS offers two glycine powders, Air-Flow Plus and Air-Flow Perio.

The MED Sleeve

Short sleeved scrub tops leave the arms exposed, which can be cold and is also not up to OSHA regulations, which state the arms should be covered. Rather than wearing a long sleeved t-shirt under the scrub top, you can add MED Sleeves. These colorful sleeves are like a pair of socks for your arms. They keep you warm when it's cold and protected from splatter.



Proxy-Brite Interdental Brush System

Proxy-Brite is a chair-side interdental brush system. The six different interdental brushes vary by wire size, brush profile and overall brush size. The 36-brush display makes it easy to select the correct size for a variety of interdental spaces. The wires are coated for comfort.

Knotty Floss

Designed by dental hygienist Elizabeth Martens, Knotty Floss is no ordinary floss. There are knots spaced one inch apart along the length of the individually packaged pieces of floss. The knots make it easier to grip and provide bumpers for each interproximal area. The up-and-down scraping motion works to remove biofilm and a back-and-forth motion with the knots pulls out food particle that are caught in between.

NeutraSal Rx Rinse

The prescription supersaturated calcium phosphate powder dissolves in water to make an electrolyte solution resembling saliva for patients with dry mouth. The rinse has a pH of 7 to neutralize acids. The calcium phosphate promotes re-epithelization of soft tissue and aids in the prevention of dental caries. When over-the-counter products don't work, prescribe NeutraSal.

MAM Pacifiers

Pacifiers are a lifesaver for parents, but can lead to orthodontic problems by taking up the space in the palate where the tongue should rest for proper palatal development. MAM pacifiers from Austria have soft, pliable silicone nipples that adapt to the baby's mouth and don't take up the space where the tongue should be. The shield has air holes for the baby's comfort.

Ice Chips Xylitol Candy

This product was developed by two grannies in a garage. After a couple of years selling their Ice Chips, they were invited to participate in the Shark Tank TV program and made a deal to automate their process. Ice Chips now come in 17 flavors and provide another option for reaching the three to five daily exposures to xylitol recommended for caries prevention.

BrushUp Toothbrush Training Game

This high-tech game teaches kids (and adults) how to brush their teeth. A bluetooth toothbrush connects to the video game on the screen. As the child brushes, the toothbrush measures pressure and location of the brush. As the child brushes, they see the green gunk being brushed off the teeth of the game character. The goal: white teeth for both the child and the game character.

Trisha O'Hehir is currently the Editorial Director for Hygienetown.com and Perio Reports. She received her education at the University of Minnesota and her fourdecade career has included roles as clinician in the USA and Zurich, Switzerland, faculty at the Universities of Minnesota, Washington, Arizona and Louisville, international speaker, writer, instrument designer, inventor and entrepreneur.

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