Breakthrough dental foam protects teeth underneath plastic aligners, retainers and mouth guards

More and more people are investing in their smiles. According to the British Orthodontic Society (BOS), over three quarters of orthodontists have reported an increase in adult patients seeking orthodontic treatment within the past three years.[i]

The rise of online working and video calls is having an impact with over half of orthodontists saying this is a factor for treatment. In addition, over a third say their adult patients are influenced by celebrities.

The number of patients wearing orthodontic devices therefore is also on the rise. And while oral care plays a crucial role in maintaining the good dental and overall health of everyone, for orthodontic patients, proper oral hygiene is even more important.

Dental challenges

Patients who wear aligners face additional dental challenges because orthodontic devices provide an ideal surface for plaque accumulation.

The accumulation of plaque poses several risks to oral health. Firstly, it can lead to dental caries. Additionally, bacteria in plaque can cause gingivitis. If not addressed, gingivitis can progress to periodontitis.[ii]

Wearing aligners and retainers alters the normal flow of saliva in the mouth too. The natural defender of tooth enamel, saliva neutralises acids in the mouth that break down enamel and protects the tooth’s surface from demineralisation, a common side effect during orthodontic treatment.[iii] 

Curaprox Aligner Foam, developed by Swiss oral health company Curaden, offers a solution to these challenges.

Curaprox Aligner Foam is an innovative new product that restores, protects and remineralises the teeth under the aligner, creating a moisturising, protective film that feels silky smooth. Through its antibacterial properties, the foam also helps to fight bad breath and plaque build-up, preventing any potential dental problems and gingival disease.

Advanced formula

It boasts an advanced formula utilising hydroxyapatite to relieve sensitivity and support the saliva’s ability to remineralise tooth enamel. Together with hyaluronic acid, a moisture-binding substance that forms a hydrating film on the teeth, it creates a protective barrier that prevents the loss of moisture and helps keep the teeth hydrated.

The formulation also contains magnolol, a bioactive compound found in the bark and leaves of the magnolia tree. It has a strong antibacterial effect against Streptococcus mutans. The foam also features CITROX^®, an antimicrobial ingredient naturally-derived from bitter oranges that is combined with polylysine amino acids together with cyclodextrine.

Further antibacterial protection is derived from Curaprox Aligner Foam’s use

of an enzymatic system with amyloglucosidase and glucose oxidase. This helps to hydrolyse starch and glycogen in food particles, converting them into soluble glucose. This reduces the potential food sources for cariogenic bacteria. By breaking down these carbohydrates, amyloglucosidase helps to reduce the risk of dental caries.[iv] Glucose oxidase converts glucose into gluconic acid and hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide has antimicrobial properties and can help kill harmful bacteria in the oral cavity.

Curaprox Aligner Foam can be used in two ways. Patients can either use the foam in the aligners themselves or directly into their mouths after brushing their teeth. A small amount of the foam is enough to naturally remineralise and protect the mouth and teeth during a treatment.

Boasting a refreshing mint flavour, Curaprox Aligner Foam comes in a handy, travel-friendly pack for easy, on-the-go use and is suitable for protecting teeth under plastic aligners, splints, retainers and sports gum shields.

Proper oral hygiene not only benefits the teeth and gums, but it also helps prolong the lifespan of orthodontic devices. Cleaning aligners and retainers regularly reduces the risk of damage, such as warping, cracking, or discolouration. Brushing them with a soft toothbrush, using mild soap, or using a retainer cleaning tablet can help maintain their cleanliness and integrity. Patients should be reminded to always handle their devices with clean hands and avoid exposing them to excessive heat or wrapping them in tissues, as this can lead to bacterial growth.

Oral care is of utmost importance for individuals who wear aligners and retainers. By practising thorough oral hygiene, including regular brushing, flossing and keeping their devices clean, orthodontic patients can prevent plaque formation, tooth discolouration, bad breath, and maintain good overall oral health. Taking these necessary steps will not only promote a healthy smile but also prolong the lifespan of the aligners themselves.

Learn more about how Curaprox Aligner Foam can help your orthodontic patients by visiting the website today!

For more information, please visit http://www.curaden.co.uk/

[i] British Orthodontic Society https://www.bos.org.uk/news/new-stats-from-the-british-orthodontic-society-reveal-online-working-triggers-a-rise-in-adults-seeking-tooth-straightening-treatment [August 2023]

[ii] Vyas T, Bhatt G, Gaur A, Sharma C, Sharma A, Nagi R. Chemical plaque control – A brief review. J Family Med Prim Care. 2021 Apr;10(4):1562-1568. doi: 10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_2216_20. Epub 2021 Apr 29. PMID: 34123892; PMCID: PMC8144784.[Accessed October 2023]

[iii] Tiwari M. Science behind human saliva. J Nat Sci Biol Med. 2011 Jan;2(1):53-8. doi: 10.4103/0976-9668.82322. PMID: 22470235; PMCID: PMC3312700. [Accessed October 2023]

[iv] Paes Leme AF, Koo H, Bellato CM, Bedi G, Cury JA. The role of sucrose in cariogenic dental biofilm formation–new insight. J Dent Res. 2006 Oct;85(10):878-87. doi: 10.1177/154405910608501002. PMID: 16998125; PMCID: PMC2257872. [Accessed October 2023]

How composite bonding can help deliver the smiles patients seek

For Georgia May Jagger, fashion model and designer, the noticeable gap between her two front teeth has become part of her iconic look. For the daughter of Rolling Stones rocker Mick Jagger and supermodel Jerry Hall, it’s not a problem. As she once proclaimed to the Daily Mail, “I like the fact that I have good old-fashioned British teeth with a big gap.”[i]

She’s not alone in liking the look. In the Caribbean, gapped teeth are associated with sexual allure and in West Africa, they signify wealth.[ii]

Diastema – to give the condition its proper name – is not harmful. It is defined as spaces of more than 0.5mm between the proximal surfaces of adjacent teeth.[iii] Although a diastema can be transient in the developing dentition[iv] – in children, as you know, any gaps typically close when their permanent teeth come through – diastema in adulthood, particularly in the anterior region, can present an aesthetic problem for many. And in this image obsessed world, patients are, more than ever before, seeking professional treatments to create their perfect smiles. Indeed, a survey by the cosmetic treatment website RealSelf found that 43% of UK adults stated that they were considering aesthetic dental treatments.[v]

Diastema decisions

Diastemas can be closed orthodontically – braces are common[vi] – or restoratively. Restorative options include porcelain laminate veneers, composites, metal-free ceramic crowns and metal ceramic crowns. While porcelain is stronger and stains less than composite, it does cost more and takes multiple appointments. Composite bonding, on the other hand, is completed in one appointment and delivers instant results.ⁱⁱⁱComposite can be added or reduced to fit a patient’s desired smile.

Compared to more extensive procedures like dental veneers or crowns, composite bonding is less invasive.[vii]It usually requires minimal to no removal of tooth enamel and typically doesn’t need anaesthesia. This means less discomfort and a quicker treatment time. So, the treatment benefits both patients and the dental professional’s workflow.

Recent aesthetic composite resin materials have similar physical and mechanical properties to that of the natural tooth and possess an appearance like natural dentine and enamel. They offer a diverse range of shades and varying opacities designed specifically for layering.[viii]

Back to black

Other gaps such as gingival embrasures, or black triangles, and the loss of interdental papillae, can also be treated by dental bonding, depending on the cause. The most common reason in the adult population is loss of periodontal support because of plaque-associated lesions.[ix]

These perceived unsightly black triangles can be a tricky restorative procedure but it can be made easier by using the cutting edge procedural advances of the Bioclear Method powered by 3M Oral Care. This consists of a standardised, five-step process, utilising clear anatomic matrices and trusted materials like  Filtek dental restoratives from 3M to deliver consistently high quality results. Warmed flowable and paste composite is injectd into preformed anatomic mylar matrices, resulting in smooth contours in hard-to-access subgingival and interproximal areas – thereby closing black triangles. The process can also be used for diastemas, undersized laterals and other challenging cases.

Black triangles can be prevented, of course. Dental professionals should encourage patients at risk of developing them to take a pro-active approach and make adjustments to their dental routine. Flossing gently, using a soft-bristle toothbrush and avoiding risk factors for gum disease such as smoking can all help reduce their occurrence.

While noticeable tooth gaps may have worked for the likes of Brigitte Bardot and Vanessa Paradis, diastema and black triangles are often viewed as flaws that patients want corrected. Fortunately, these days dental professionals have the ability, the tools and the materials available to them to ensure their patients get exactly the smiles they want.

For more information, call 08705 360 036 or visit www.go.3M.com/ocsdpr

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[i] Daily Mail https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1082925/Taking-Mick-Georgia-Jagger-shows-inheritance–Her-fathers-famous-lips.html [Accessed September 2023]

[ii] Joseph Mwangi Macharia, Kenyan author and poet, https://www.annamastenterprises.com/my-lovely-diastema/ [Accessed September 2023]

[iii] Prabhu R, Bhaskaran S, Geetha Prabhu KR, Eswaran MA, Phanikrishna G, Deepthi B. Clinical evaluation of direct composite restoration done for midline diastema closure – long-term study. J Pharm Bioallied Sci. 2015 Aug;7(Suppl 2):S559-62. doi: 10.4103/0975-7406.163539. PMID: 26538917; PMCID: PMC4606659. [Accessed September 2023]

[iv] Vijaya S, Vijaya S, J Shetty M. Management of Midline Diastema in a Young Adult With Minimal-Thickness Porcelain Laminate Veneers. Cureus. 2023 Jul 14;15(7):e41904. doi: 10.7759/cureus.41904. PMID: 37588337; PMCID: PMC10425606. [Accessed September 2023]

[v] RealSelf UK Aesthetics Interest Survey 2018 https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xh0x0ar-PW_fSGcJDr3vUBBi58FGnVSm/view [Accessed September 2023]

[vi] Tanaka OM, Morino AY, Machuca OF, Schneider NÁ. When the Midline Diastema Is Not Characteristic of the “Ugly Duckling” Stage. Case Rep Dent. 2015;2015:924743. doi: 10.1155/2015/924743. Epub 2015 Aug 5. PMID: 26345220; PMCID: PMC4540983. [Accessed September 2023]

[vii] Pini NP, Aguiar FH, Lima DA, Lovadino JR, Terada RS, Pascotto RC. Advances in dental veneers: materials, applications, and techniques. Clin Cosmet Investig Dent. 2012 Feb 10;4:9-16. doi: 10.2147/CCIDEN.S7837. PMID: 23674920; PMCID: PMC3652364. [Accessed September 2023]

[viii] Goyal A, Nikhil V, Singh R. Diastema Closure in Anterior Teeth Using a Posterior Matrix. Case Rep Dent. 2016;2016:2538526. doi: 10.1155/2016/2538526. Epub 2016 Oct 13. PMID: 27818804; PMCID: PMC5081967. [Accessed September 2023]

[ix] Montevecchi M, Checchi V, Piana L, Checchi L. Variables Affecting the Gingival Embrasure Space in Aesthetically Important Regions: Differences between Central and Lateral Papillae. Open Dent J. 2011;5:126-35. doi: 10.2174/1874210601105010126. Epub 2011 Jul 29. PMID: 21892365; PMCID: PMC3162192. [Accessed September 2023]

Thinking about selling your practice and undecided as to whether an independent or corporate buyer is right for you? Some of the pros and cons were outlined in a recent Dental Elite webinar.

The informative session also covered how current interest rate activity has affected the market and just how important it is to keep an eye on materials, lab and staff costs in the lead up to a sale, on an associate led EBITDA basis, every £1 of profit saved, could be worth circa £7 in value (Multiple Dependant)

The webinar discussed the impact of recent market disruptions too, given the consolidation of eight buying groups becoming four and the need to get expert advice to ensure the best possible deal is negotiated in terms of purchase price and the terms related to the sale

You can revisit the webinar by heading to https://webinars.dental-update.co.uk/#/pastwebinars

To find out how Dental Elite can assist with your business decisions, contact the team today.

For more information contact Dental Elite. Visit www.dentalelite.co.uk, email info@dentalelite.co.uk or call 01788 545 900

To avoid serious dental conditions such as cavities and gum disease, effective plaque removal is essential. The FLEXI range of interdental brushes from TANDEX can help patients remove more plaque than brushing alone. Each product’s handle is flexible, and the brush can be bent into the perfect shape to clean in between the teeth.

Available in 11 different sizes, the line presents a solution for each individual patient, for a comfortable and effective clean. Additionally, FLEXIMax features an ergonomic handle for an even easier clean.

FLEXI brushes can be used to easily apply PREVENT GEL too, a product which contains 0.12% chlorhexidine and 900ppm fluoride known for their antibacterial and enamel strengthening properties.

To find out how the FLEXI range and PREVENT GEL can help your patients visit the website today.

For more information on Tandex’s range of products,
visit https://tandex.dk/ or visit the Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/TandexUK

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