Home-Care Instruction and Products

8 Home-Care Instruction and Products



Outline



Client Education,


Plaque Control and Home Care,


Other Home-Care Aids,



Learning Objectives


When you have completed this chapter, you will be able to:



• Discuss issues related to client education for dental care of their pets.


• Discuss methods used to acclimate patients to tooth brushing.


• Describe advantages and disadvantages of the various brushing devices available for use with dogs and cats.


• List and describe home-care products used for promoting oral health in dogs and cats.


• Explain the general rules for choosing toys and chews for dogs and cats.


• Describe the action of chlorhexidine and list products that contain chlorhexidine.


• Describe the use of fluoride-containing products in dental care of dogs and cats.



Key Terms


Chemical plaque control


Chlorhexidine


Coronal direction


Glucose oxidase


Lactoperoxidase


Mechanical plaque control


Monofluorophosphate fluoride


Periodontal disease


Stannous fluoride


Veterinary Oral Health Council


Xylitol


Zinc ascorbate


Client education should begin before the procedure is performed. In addition to informing the client about the procedure, client education is an important way to evaluate the client’s willingness to perform home care and the patient’s willingness to accept it. The decision to save a tooth or extract it depends on the client’s desire and ability to comply with home-care instructions.



Client Education


All members of the veterinary office staff play important roles in the promotion of pet oral health by home-care instruction. These efforts help bond the client to the practice. Staff members should review brushing and home-care techniques with clients. If possible, a “demonstrator” dog (or cat) should be used (Figure 8-1). Otherwise, plastic or plaster dental models can be used to show brushing techniques. These models show pathologic as well as healthy conditions. However, skulls should not be used for demonstration because some clients respond negatively to them.


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FIGURE 8-1 A demonstrator dog can be a useful addition to the staff!



Demonstration


A circular or oval motion with emphasis on the coronal direction, away from the gumline, is recommended. Staff members who are properly trained in this area foster client rapport and increase the likelihood of successful therapy. Clients should be encouraged to return for further instruction as often as necessary.



Tips for difficult cases


For patients that resist attempts to brush, flavored material or toothpaste can be placed on the toothbrush. The patient is allowed to lick the brush, with no effort made to brush the teeth or restrain the patient in any way (Figure 8-2). Once the patient begins to become comfortable with the process, the client can begin to swipe at the teeth. Eventually, full brushing can take place. Cats may respond positively to liquid drained out of water-packed tuna.


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FIGURE 8-2 To introduce brushing, start the patient with licking the toothpaste off the toothbrush.



Advanced techniques


Once the patient is accustomed to having its teeth brushed, a Dentabone, Nylabone, or other prop may be placed in the mouth (Figure 8-3). The mouth is held closed, and the teeth are brushed. When the Dentabone is used, the patient can eat the prop as a reward.


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FIGURE 8-3 A prop can be placed in the mouth to open the mouth and to brush the lingual and buccal sides of the mandible.



Visual Aids


Visual aids and client handouts are also beneficial in reinforcing the need for brushing and home care. Many manufacturers offer professionally designed handouts. Many clients feel reassured when they read or hear the same information from a variety of sources. Handouts are best displayed in the reception or examination rooms. Some commercial handouts leave spaces for the inclusion of the practice’s name and phone number. The practitioner can also customize a handout specifically for the practice. Photographs of the dental area and equipment may increase client awareness of veterinary dentistry procedures performed in the hospital or clinic.


With the advent of computers, handouts can be customized to reflect each patient’s specific condition. For example, a client whose pet has stage 1 periodontal disease (PD 1) requires different educational materials than a client whose pet has stage 4 (PD 4). These handouts can be linked to either diagnostic codes or service codes so that when a particular procedure is performed, the handout is generated automatically. Preprinted or computer-generated handouts provide information about periodontics, endodontics, orthodontics, and other dental diseases and treatments. Several companies make flip charts or wall charts that demonstrate various aspects of veterinary dentistry. Polaroid or digital photographs can be used to demonstrate each patient’s pathologic condition and often are a key to client communication. Videotapes showing dental procedures are also available. Box 8-1 lists a few online videos that may be helpful.



Box 8-1


Online Videos


Some video sites that may be helpful:



For Brushing




http://partnersah.vet.cornell.edu/pet/fhc/brushing_teeth


http://www.virbacvet.com/PracticeResources/tooth_brushing.​aspx?webSyncID=684c07c2-0d14-5785-0534-1108352e21​cc&sessionGUID=e60eda7b-40dd-2a51-c9b4-58b7d70e01bd



For Applying OraVet




http://www.oravet.us.merial.com/oravet_homecare.html



Plaque Control and Home Care



Toothbrushing


Clients frequently ask how often they should brush their pets’ teeth. Because of the way plaque and calculus form, daily brushing is best. Plaque forms 6 to 8 hours after brushing. Bacteria attach to the tooth and aid in the formation of calculus in 3 to 5 days. The client advised to brush the teeth every other day may indeed do so. However, clients are prone to the human tendency of procrastination. Every other day stretches to every 3 days, and at that point calculus may form. One good tip is to advise the client to brush before feeding—use food as a reward! This is contrary to what most parents teach their children. However, in humans the primary concern is the accumulation of carbohydrate substances that may lead to cavities. Periodontal disease is caused by bacterial plaque, which is removed by conscientious brushing. Brushing daily is more important than the time of day that the brushing occurs.


Electric toothbrushes, such as those made by Braun or Crest, can be effective toothbrushes. It takes some conditioning for the patient to get used to the vibration and noise, but it can be done.



Brushing devices


The most important strategy in the prevention of periodontal disease is plaque control. There are two major methods of plaque control: mechanical and chemical. The mechanical removal of plaque is particularly important in the control of periodontal disease. Many types of devices can be used. The use of a soft, child-size or preschool toothbrush is the most effective method. Rubber fingerbrushes are available and are easier for the client to adapt to their pet’s teeth (Figure 8-4). However, they may not be as effective as other toothbrushes and canine and feline toothbrushes (Figures 8-5 and 8-6). A cotton-tipped applicator may be effective for some patients. Smaller brushes useful for brushing the interproximal and furcation areas are available at human pharmacies (Figures 8-7 through 8-9).


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FIGURE 8-4 A rubber fingerbrush may be used as a starter brush, but clients should be encouraged to use a child’s preschool-sized toothbrush.

Related posts:

  1. Marketing Veterinary Dentistry
  2. Feline Dentistry
  3. The Complete Prophy
  4. Introduction to Veterinary Dentistry

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Oct 9, 2016 | Posted by in GENERAL | Comments Off on Home-Care Instruction and Products

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