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Hygiene Visit By Benjamin Lund Editor, Dentaltown Magazine

More by this author (119)


One Tooth at a Time

Welcome to the first installment of Hygiene Department Visit, where we visit Townies in their practices and profile their equipment, procedures and hygiene philosophies. If you would like to participate or nominate a colleague, please e-mail ben@hygienetown.com.

This month, we visited Amy Beth Cody, RDH, in the Scottsdale, Arizona practice where she works. Amy discusses her favorite procedures, her dental hygiene philosophy, why she chose dental hygiene as her career, and more. 		Hygiene Highlights

Equipment
  • Brasseler NSK cordless polisher
  • CAESY educational software
  • Dentrix probing system
  • Dentsply Cavitron
  • Hoya LVILase diode laser
  • Midwest RDH handpiece
  • Motorola walkie talkie
  • Septodont petite syringe
  • Surgitel loupes


Ultrasonic Inserts
  • Dentsply Cavitron
  • Discus Dental Protégé
  • Hu-Friedy Swivel
  • Tony Riso implant inserts


Instruments
  • Hu-Friedy instruments/Sidekick
  • PDT instruments/Gleason Glide/li>


Supplies
  • 3M ESPE Clinpro sealants
  • 3M ESPE masks /li>
  • Arestin
  • Dentsply All Solutions fluorides
  • Ivoclar Proxyt polishing paste
  • Nupro polishing paste
  • Oraqix
  • Ultradent Ultraseal XT Plus sealants
  • Vizilite Oral Cancer Screening
  • Young Dental petite web prophy angles

Oral Hygiene Products
  • Discus BreathRX tongue cleaner
  • Discus BreathRX toothpaste and rinse
  • Discus Fluoridex toothpaste and rinse
  • Glide Floss
  • GUM Proxybrush
  • GUM rubber tip stimulators
  • GUM Softpicks
  • Oral-B toothbrushes
  • Oral-B Satinfloss
  • Oral-B Superfloss
  • REACH access flosser
  • Sunstar Butler disclosing tablets
  • Oxyfresh toothpaste and rinse


Radiography Products
  • Dentsply RINN XCP holders
  • ScanX digital X-ray
  • Strong Dental Edge-Ease corners
Name: Amy Beth Cody, RDH
Townie name: amybethrdh
Graduate from:
Northcentral Technical College
in Wausau, Wisconsin
Year graduated: 2000
Dentist/Employer:
Richard J. Croft, DDS, FAGD
Practice location: Scottsdale, AZ
Number of hygiene ops.: Two

Why did you choose hygiene as a career?

I chose dental hygiene because I have always had a fascination with teeth. I also have an aunt who is a hygienist and she loved what she did; that inspired me as well. I always knew healthcare was where I would end up and dentistry was the best fit for me.

What appealed to you about the current practice in which you work? My office is committed to continuing education and technology. That appealed to me because we can offer our patients the best that dentistry has to offer. I consider myself a lifelong learner and that is the culture of my office. Patient education is placed as top priority in all departments, and I am provided all the tools necessary to accomplish that.

What is your favorite dental hygiene procedure?

Periodontal therapy is my favorite procedure because I can actually see the results of my hard work. There is nothing better than treating a patient’s periodontal condition and getting a favorable result that the patient is grateful for as well. And sometimes, if you are lucky and have compliant patients, you can change their lives a little too. Inspiring good oral hygiene practices can be encouragement for other health changes as well. I might not be saving lives, but I like to think I make a difference one tooth at a time.

What is your experience with using the laser?

It has been favorable. I started using the laser a year ago when I joined Dr. Croft. Prior to this I had read the research and did not have access to a laser. The research at this time doesn’t say that the laser is any better than traditional therapy methods. What I can tell you is that I seem to be seeing some very nice results from my periodontal therapy, which includes using the laser. Now, I cannot prove whether these results are due to using the laser, improved oral hygiene, or my scaling technique, but I like to think that maybe it’s a combo of all three.

Click Here to See Amy's Top Five

What is your periodontal therapy philosophy?

This is not exactly black and white. I take into account the probe depth, bleeding, tissue condition and the patient’s medical history. What I like to treat, or feel confident in treating, is the early-to-moderate periodontal disease stages. In the case of advanced perio I will do my best to clean them first, prior to evaluation by a periodontist. I also refer out anything that has furcation involvement that we can’t stabilize or patients with moderate to severe gingival recession.

What is your typical day of appointments?

My typical day is eight to nine patients. I am given an hour for all appointments and an hour per quadrant of periodontal therapy. Some days I do the traditional 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. shift with an hour lunch and some days I work 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. with a half-hour lunch. My practice does not have a large population of children, as Dr. Croft has been practicing for more than 30 years. New patients are seen in the doctor’s schedule first and have a comprehensive exam and full-mouth X-rays. They are reappointed for an hour in my schedule for the hygiene evaluation. About 75-80 percent of my patients are in periodontal maintenance status, so the majority of my days are periodontal maintenance appointments.



How do you decide your regular and perio tray set-ups?

Every appointment has a “regular” setup. For periodontal treatment appointments, I have a large selection of instruments and tools that I may use depending on a given situation. I generally have another separate tray on the counter behind the patient with the items I routinely use and I have a drawer full of anything else I might need along the way. I try to keep the tray that is in patient viewing as simple as possible. I work very hard to reduce fear and anxiety for my patients, so I like to keep the trays neat and uncluttered.

How do you battle patient non-compliance? What do you do to motivate your patients?

Patient compliance and motivation is the biggest challenge I face. There are several ways of handling non-compliance and motivational challenges that we face with our patients everyday. The biggest help to me was changing what I say and the questions that I ask. I have taken CE courses to help with personality typing and changing my message to compliment a particular personality type. For example, instead of saying, “You need to floss every day,” try saying, “Flossing is a challenge for a lot of people, how about trying something else that may be easier for you?” Then proceed into a discussion on Softpicks, water irrigation, flossing devices, etc. I also try to use analogies whenever possible that are tailored to each individual’s specific interests. Look at what your patient’s occupation or hobbies are and try to tie in a common bond between what they do and what we do. For example, if your patient’s hobby or occupation involves cars, compare oral maintenance to vehicle maintenance. Practice with passion, sincerity and your heart, and you will motivate some without any effort.

How has Hygienetown impacted the way you practice dental hygiene?

Hygienetown was a tremendous help for me personally and professionally. When I first started posting, I realized that I was not alone in many of the situations that I faced every day. The advice and friends I have made on Hygienetown have definitely shaped the way I practice today. I was there on the message boards since day one, and not only did Hygienetown provide a platform for me to network, get and give advice, but it also helped me take my career in a different direction. Because of my participation I was given the opportunity to work for Hygienetown and pursue lecturing, in addition to clinical practice.
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