by Dr Sarah Rose, Eumundi Dental, QLD
by Dr Sarah Rose, Eumundi Dental, QLDThe Prophyflex is an effective tooth-cleaning device that uses air, water and powder to remove plaque and staining. Some patients can be a little worried about it but I just spray a bit onto my gloved hand and they see that it doesn’t hurt at all.
What’s good about it
It does a great job removing plaque and all kinds of stains. It’s also very effective with people who have braces as the spray can get around the brackets and under the wires.
It cleans teeth beautifully and can be used slightly under the gum line. It’s possible to purchase specific cleaning products for more extensive perio work but I only use it on people who have healthy gums. I prefer not to use it with patients who have periodontitis.
Even when teeth have quite bad staining from coffee, tobacco or red wine, it removes all the markings. I’ve had a good response from teenagers and adults love it. It does such a great job at cleaning that it makes their mouth feel really fresh and clean.
Overall, the results with the Prophyflex are great. I’ve even had a couple of patients tell other people, ‘The next time you get your teeth cleaned, make sure you get Sarah to use the little Gerni on you.’
What’s not so good
The nozzle on the Prophyflex is so fine that if the smallest amount of moisture gets in there, it will react with the powder and become clogged. Every time I use it, I run air through the system to make sure there’s no moisture inside. It’s also quite messy, particularly when working on upper anterior teeth. You need to tell the patient that there will probably be a bit of residue on their face after the procedure.
