Polishing after scaling - has the debate ended?

RE: Polishing after scaling - has the debate ended?

Lucy Fleming — Tue, 10 Oct 2017 12:38:49 GMT

[quote user="Martin Atkinson"]are very soft compared with human brushes. This started a discussion on whether they should be soft or firme[/quote]

How firm do they need to be? The idea being with regular gentle use to disrupt soft plaque.

I always used to prefer the sensation of a firm toothbrush. I desisted when my dentist informed me that I was left handed after looking at my gums...

RE: Polishing after scaling - has the debate ended?

Martin Atkinson — Fri, 06 Oct 2017 17:58:12 GMT

Slight tangent. One of my nurses has observed brushing her own dog's teeth that she thinks the brushes (Virbac Logic) are very soft compared with human brushes. This started a discussion on whether they should be soft or firmer. Any thoughts especially Evelyn.

RE: Polishing after scaling - has the debate ended?

Kate Richardson — Thu, 05 Oct 2017 18:58:29 GMT

[quote user="Evelyn Barbour-Hill"]

I shall send you one if I remember when i get home from La Bohéme tonight.

Anyone else?

[/quote]

Yes please. La Boheme, very jealous. Hope you enjoyed it.

RE: Polishing after scaling - has the debate ended?

Kate Richardson — Thu, 05 Oct 2017 18:46:03 GMT

Yes please. La Boheme, very jealous. Hope you enjoyed it.

RE: Polishing after scaling - has the debate ended?

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Thu, 05 Oct 2017 12:30:10 GMT

[quote user="Rob Davis"]the generic "dental".[/quote]

And meaningless.

I even had a new client the other day telling me that six months ago her cat was "dentalled".

RE: Polishing after scaling - has the debate ended?

Rob Davis — Thu, 05 Oct 2017 08:57:57 GMT

Comprehensive Oral Health Assessment and Treatment - American term to replace the generic "dental". I like the sentiment, but can't quite bring myself to use the term without cringing!

RE: Polishing after scaling - has the debate ended?

Michael Woodhouse — Wed, 04 Oct 2017 17:41:07 GMT

[quote user="GrooveJet"]COHAT[/quote]

A what now?

RE: Polishing after scaling - has the debate ended?

Miriam Lodewyks — Wed, 04 Oct 2017 13:39:35 GMT

Although I am not a specialist, I have taken an interest in dentistry in the past years, probably do 5-6 COHAT a week and attended several CPD on the topic: the general consensus is that scaling always leaves behind small fragments of tartar to which plaque will invariably adhere. A brief, gentle polish, particularly under the gingival sulcus is supposed to help dislodge this and smoothe the tooth surface and slow the recurrence of plaque buildup. The key is to be thorough but brief and I always use a slow speed. Adds no more than 2 minutes to the procedure.

RE: Polishing after scaling - has the debate ended?

Martin Atkinson — Wed, 04 Oct 2017 11:16:28 GMT

[quote user="David Mills"]Does one have to do a certain amount for their opinion to be valid?[/quote]Given your usual disregard of other's personal experience that is, not surprisingly, rather hypocritical.

RE: Polishing after scaling - has the debate ended?

David Mills — Wed, 04 Oct 2017 09:14:57 GMT

[quote user="Martin Atkinson"]So why do human dental hygienists always polish after a scale? [/quote]

You'd have to ask them.

[quote user="Martin Atkinson"] the logic is irrefutable[/quote]

Irrefutable logic? You mean it's a universal truth? That would make it God. Is polishing teeth therefore the definition of God?

[quote user="Martin Atkinson"]scaling causes microscopic marks which may allow plaque to form on more easily and polishing will smooth those out.[/quote]

Possibly. But unless you have handy access to an electron microscope you won't know will you? The question isn't necessarily what you're trying to achieve - although veterinary studies detailing improved outcomes (whatever outcome measure that would be, I've no idea) if this is (ever) achieved are completely lacking - but whether you have a hope in hell of achieving it by what you're doing. Personally I think what you do with your polishing won't make a duck's shit of difference to that patients long term oral health because no one knows the exact speed, time, paste etc etc etc () needed to achieve that. Let us not forget that polishing is not benign and you're charging for that time - do you make a habit of charging for something with so little evidence behind it and potential harm? Are you more homeopathic than you imagined? (Not sure how God feels about homeopathy).

RE: Polishing after scaling - has the debate ended?

David Mills — Wed, 04 Oct 2017 09:10:16 GMT

[quote user="Evelyn Barbour-Hill"]Do you do much periodontal work me ol' pal me ol' beauty?[/quote]

Ah a few dentals here and there, when the nurses are too busy.

Does one have to do a certain amount for their opinion to be valid?

RE: Polishing after scaling - has the debate ended?

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Tue, 03 Oct 2017 17:51:27 GMT

I shall send you one if I remember when i get home from La Bohéme tonight.

Anyone else?

RE: Polishing after scaling - has the debate ended?

Rob Davis — Tue, 03 Oct 2017 15:29:47 GMT

Oops, just realised it was BVDA Journal, not JVD. I would be interested if you have a copy going spare. You could save postage and hang onto it until you send out the next JVD if you like!

RE: Polishing after scaling - has the debate ended?

Rob Davis — Tue, 03 Oct 2017 15:22:45 GMT

[quote user="Evelyn Barbour-Hill"]BVDA Journal devoted a whole issue to the polishing question – we called it the polishing issue (geddit?). I have some spare copies – if anyone would like one let me know.[/quote]

Hi Evelyn, I don't suppose you know which issue this was in. Now we have online access to all past issues I can look it up

RE: Polishing after scaling - has the debate ended?

Bob Russell — Tue, 03 Oct 2017 10:11:37 GMT

[quote user="Martin Atkinson"]

[quote user="David Mills"] I'm in no way convinced of its beneficial effects,[/quote]So why do human dental hygienists always polish after a scale? I would have thought that they have would have infinitely more data to say if it is effective or not. I'm aware cats have very thin enamel compared with us so not to overdo it but the logic is irrefutable - scaling causes microscopic marks which may allow plaque to form on more easily and polishing will smooth those out. Whether that logic is borne out in reality is another matter. For now I will continue to polish but if I run out of paste or the prophy angle breaks down I won't lose any sleep over it.

[/quote]

They don't in my experience.

RE: Polishing after scaling - has the debate ended?

Martin Atkinson — Mon, 02 Oct 2017 15:43:37 GMT

RE: Polishing after scaling - has the debate ended?

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Mon, 02 Oct 2017 01:15:46 GMT

[quote user="David Mills"]

[quote user="Evelyn Barbour-Hill"]

[quote user="David Mills"]GOBSAT.[/quote]

BVDA Journal devoted a whole issue to the polishing question – we called it the polishing issue (geddit?). I have some spare copies – if anyone would like one let me know.

Dogma "never polish" is as silly as dogma "always polish".

[/quote]

Hardly dogma old fruit. I'm in no way convinced of its beneficial effects, I looked into it a couple of years ago. Lots of surrogate outcomes, theoretical extrapolations etc etc. Out of things promoting dental health, polishing is very far down the list.

[/quote]

Do you do much periodontal work me ol' pal me ol' beauty?

It depends of course on what you mean by polishing.

On a quick skim through the Brooke Niemic WSAVA guidelines, I don't find too much else that's wrong, although they don't really seem to understand that a luxator is not an elevator, and vice versa, and their recommendation on suture material is a bit weird (why would you want to use 3/0 material when 5/0 is the thickest you ever need and 6/0 is better in many situations?).

RE: Polishing after scaling - has the debate ended?

David Mills — Mon, 02 Oct 2017 00:58:41 GMT

[quote user="Evelyn Barbour-Hill"]

[quote user="David Mills"]GOBSAT.[/quote]

BVDA Journal devoted a whole issue to the polishing question – we called it the polishing issue (geddit?). I have some spare copies – if anyone would like one let me know.

Dogma "never polish" is as silly as dogma "always polish".

[/quote]

RE: Polishing after scaling - has the debate ended?

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Mon, 02 Oct 2017 00:55:45 GMT

[quote user="David Mills"]GOBSAT.[/quote]

BVDA Journal devoted a whole issue to the polishing question – we called it the polishing issue (geddit?). I have some spare copies – if anyone would like one let me know.

Dogma "never polish" is as silly as dogma "always polish".

RE: Polishing after scaling - has the debate ended?

David Mills — Mon, 02 Oct 2017 00:16:02 GMT

[quote user="Evelyn Barbour-Hill"]

WSAVA is wrong.

Polishing has some pros as well as its cons, but we do know that it is not essential, as was previously the dogma.

And "every square millimetre"? Ridiculous.

I think I'd better have a look at the WSAVA guidelines and see what other tripe they've come up with.

[/quote]

GOBSAT.

I don't polish.

RE: Polishing after scaling - has the debate ended?

Michael Woodhouse — Sun, 01 Oct 2017 21:50:36 GMT

[quote user="Evelyn Barbour-Hill"]I think I'd better have a look at the WSAVA guidelines and see what other tripe they've come up with.[/quote]

I'll start you off with lepto not being a core vaccine antigen......

RE: Polishing after scaling - has the debate ended?

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Sun, 01 Oct 2017 21:48:37 GMT

WSAVA is wrong.

Polishing has some pros as well as its cons, but we do know that it is not essential, as was previously the dogma.

And "every square millimetre"? Ridiculous.

I think I'd better have a look at the WSAVA guidelines and see what other tripe they've come up with.

RE: Polishing after scaling - has the debate ended?

Michael Woodhouse — Sun, 01 Oct 2017 21:47:55 GMT

My teeth get polished twice a year and I hope to be using them for 60+ years so how much harm could we possibly do polishing a dogs teeth a couple of times in its entire life? As long as we don't cause harm with heat, but we know about that issue.

I feel we need something more interesting to talk about!

RE: Polishing after scaling - has the debate ended?

Bill Nolan — Sun, 01 Oct 2017 21:22:48 GMT

Limited anecdotal evidence, however i have been led to believe that polishing is beneficial, as long as the polishing head is not constantly applied to the tooth for extended periods of time.

Next time you're polishing, hold the head on your skin on full power and count how long before your skin is red hot. My time: approximately 3 seconds. I'm guessing that heat damage is the main reason for advising against polishing, so now i pulse polish for 1-2 seconds at a time.