Prevention is better than cure

Dr Amo features in Dentistry.co.uk article and explains how dental neglect can end up costing more than regular dental visits – and why oral hygiene is key for sustainable treatment. 

When a patient sits in the dental chair, whatever the level of engagement we get from them, we should always remind ourselves that they come because they choose to.

Reasons for visiting vary from one patient to another, but the common factor is that they are entrusting us to make them feel and look better. However empowering this may initially seem, clinicians have all experienced that this trust sadly does not equate to instant compliance or behavioural change.

At the recent BSDHT conference, I was invited by Philips to address delegates about enhancing the patient journey and optimising patients’ oral health before, during and after orthodontic treatment.

I explained how delivering effective oral health advice is imperative to achieving successful treatment outcomes and how the role of hygienists and therapists is still very under-utilised.

Lecturing patients is, of course, not the way to go. But how would they feel if you said to them that you are happy to ignore the state of their mouth, wait for oral health issues to develop and just focus on their treatment? This kind of approach would clearly be unacceptable.

Read the full article at Dentistry.co.uk