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James Karpac Orthodontics
Dublin Office
Tue (Dublin) 8:00am – 5:00pm
Thu (Dublin) 7:30am – 4:00pm
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James Karpac Orthodontics

Check Out Our Cleaning Processes with Dr. Karpac

Check Out Our Cleaning Processes with Dr. Karpac

Keeping our office as clean as possible has always been a major concern for our team

In this edition of Dr. Karpac’s video series we dive into the cleaning process that our team conducts on a daily basis. In the video Dr. Karpac thoroughly explains the general purposes of each cleaning station, and exactly why each step is necessary to ensure the overall hygiene of our tools and individual patient interactions.

We fully understand how the COVID-19 pandemic has put a lot of fears in our minds when it comes to hygiene, and as the entire country begins to transition back into a normal working economy there will inevitably be an increased amount of cleanliness concerns oriented around what we do to kill germs and disinfect our office.

Our entire team is prepared to increase our precautionary measures to coincide with CDC and American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) guidelines, and in this article we’re going to delve deeper into what our team does to promote cleanliness within our practice, as well as the proper hygiene routines that our patients should take into their daily lives.

We Establish Hygiene Fundamentals During Initial Consultations

When any new patient of ours comes in for their initial consultation, we will always provide a forthright and upfront approach in terms of explaining what the appropriate hygiene expectations are prior to beginning orthodontic treatment. It’s very important to us that our patients have existing brushing habits of at least twice per day before beginning treatment, and this is because we will want our patients to begin brushing three times per day. Of course we know that this type of patient promise is a lot easier said than done!

What we’ve discovered over the years is that younger patients in their teenage years respond much better when we thoroughly explain the science behind these types of hygiene recommendations, which is why we’ll explain how necessary it is to disrupt the buildup of oral microflora within 8-hour increments. Bacteria growth in and around brackets is not something that should be taken lightly, and we’ll provide our new patients with the education and tools they’ll need in order to consistently clean their wires and brackets.

We Prefer Showing, Not Telling

We understand how teenagers don’t necessarily respond too well when someone tells them what to do, so what we do instead is utilize a more interactive strategy in terms of hygiene recommendations. This includes using hands-on demonstrations and handouts that will clearly explain what a patient should do on a daily basis.

We’ll also routinely ask our patients to show us what they’ve learned throughout their treatment, and also demonstrate these hygiene strategies to the patient’s parents so they can help out with cleanliness at home.

We Don’t Like Fear Mongering

Everyone can remember seeing the graphic images of a smoker’s black lungs, or even images of plaque-covered teeth and gum lesions. We understand that these types of scare tactics are a thing of the past, and that empowerment and education is always a much more effective way to promote hygiene routines with our patients.

Instead we’ll promote the positive side of what is possible when a patient and their parents buy into the overall importance of hygienic routines during orthodontic treatment: a beautiful, healthy smile that lasts a lifetime!

Mobilizing Our Collective Hygiene Army

When it comes to keeping our office and patient’s daily routines as clean as possible, it truly does take an army. Our team knows that we’re all on this together when it comes to promoting cleanliness and properly disinfecting our facilities on a regular basis, and that the parents of our patients are always the most effective enablers and cheerleaders when it comes to patient hygiene out of the office.

We also make sure to keep in touch with our referring dental offices and patients’ general dentistry teams, because keeping hygiene and treatment goals in mind will always go much further than the effective strategies within our practice!

Utilizing Take-Home Tools

Maintaining a consistent hygiene routine goes a lot further than simply brushing three times per day, which is why we’ll provide an assortment of tools that our patients can take home with them and utilize throughout their entire treatment process. Some of these tools include the following:

  • Nighttime dentifrices (prescription toothpaste)
  • Peroxyl mouthwash
  • Interproximal flossing and brushing tools
  • Rubber tipping tools and instructions

Reach Out To Us For More Information

These are undoubtedly unprecedented times for all of us, and our team is doing everything we can and more to consistently ensure a 100% clean and hygienic treatment facility for the foreseeable future.

If you have any questions about the ensuing changes we’ll be developing, feel free to contact us so we can provide you the answers you’re looking for. Stay safe and healthy, and we look forward to seeing all of you very soon!