The human teeth are conventionally divided into several segments (molars, premolars, frontal teeth). It means that there are 3 segments on each side of the upper and lower jaw. The person should clean his teeth starting from the upper right molars, gradually moving to the central teeth, and then from the left central teeth to the left molars. Teeth should be first cleaned in the upper and then in the lower jaw. When cleaning the buccal surfaces of the upper and lower molars and premolars, tip the toothbrush at a sharp angle toward the surface of the teeth. Using upward scrubbing motions in the upper jaw and downward scrubbing motions in the lower jaw, you can remove dental plaque from the gums. Then brush your teeth gently with a horizontal back-and-forth motion, and a circulatory motion. Pressure on the toothbrush should be the greatest when it cleans the tooth coming downwards from the gum. When coming in the opposite direction, pressure should be minimal. You should brush just one segment at a time and do the same on other segments.

When cleaning the masticatory surfaces of the upper and lower premolars and molars, tip the toothbrush at a right angle to the occlusal surface of the teeth to ensure the penetration of the bristles into the pits and fissures. Slow rotatory motions (without changing the position of the toothbrush) should be alternated with horizontal back-and-forth scrubbing motions.

The palatal surfaces of the upper molars and premolars as well as the lingual surfaces of the lower molars and premolars should be cleaned in the same way as the buccal surfaces. When cleaning the buccal surfaces of the upper and lower frontal teeth, the person should use the same motions as with the buccal surfaces of the molars and premolars.

When cleaning the palatal surfaces of the upper frontal teeth and the lingual surfaces of the lower frontal teeth, the handle of the toothbrush should be held parallel with the occlusal surface, thus cleaning the teeth and gums. Horizontal back-and-forth motions should be used. Then the position of the toothbrush should be changed so as to hold the head of the toothbrush at a right angle to the occlusal surface of the teeth and the bristles should be held at a sharp angle to the occulusal surface of the teeth covering the gingival margins. Downward and upward motions help clean not only the teeth but also the gums.

Exercise 6.10. Find the equivalents to the following words and word combinations :

метод чистки зубов; подразделять на несколько сегментов; передние зубы; начинать чистку с верхних правых моляров; постепенно продвигаясь; от левых центральных зубов до левых моляров; чистить сначала верхние, а затем нижние зубы; при чистке щечной поверхности зуба; держать щетку под острым углом к поверхности зуба; восходящие чистящие движения; нисходящие чистящие движения; удалять зубной налет; горизонтальное движение «вперед-назад»; давление на щетку должно быть сильным; прочищать один сегмент некоторый период времени; при чистке жевательной поверхности; способствовать проникновению щетины в ямки и фиссуры зуба; медленные вращательные движения; движения должны чередоваться; палатальные поверхности моляров и премоляров; ежедневной язычные поверхности моляров и премоляров; использовать те же движения; ручка зубной щетки; гниющая пища; удерживаться параллельно с окклюзионной поверхностью зубов; покрывая (затрагивая) десневой край; помогать чистить не только зубы, но и дёсна.

Additional Reading

Exercise 6.11. Read the text “Dental Hygiene” and translate it into Russian:

Dental Hygiene

Dental hygiene refers to the practice of keeping the mouth, teeth, and gums clean and healthy to prevent disease. Dental hygiene and oral health are often taken for granted but are essential parts of our everyday lives.

Tooth Decay: Tooth decay (cavities) is a common problem for people of all ages. For children, untreated cavities can cause pain, absence from school, difficulty concentrating on learning, and poor appearance, all problems that greatly affect quality of life and ability to succeed. Children from lower income families often do not receive timely treatment for tooth decay and are more likely to suffer from these problems. Tooth decay also is a problem for many adults. Adults of some racial and ethnic groups experience more untreated decay.

Periodontal Disease: Periodontal (gum) disease is an infection caused by bacteria under the gum tissue that begin to destroy the gums and bone. Teeth become loose, chewing becomes difficult, and teeth may have to be extracted. Gum disease may also be related to damage elsewhere in the body; recent studies point to associations between oral infections and diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and preterm, low-weight births. Research is underway to further examine these connections.

Many children and adults still go without simple measures that have been proven effective in preventing oral diseases and reducing dental care costs. For example, fluoride prevents tooth decay, and the most cost-effective way to deliver the benefits of fluoride to all residents of a community is through water fluoridation; that is, adjusting the fluoride in the public water supply to the appropriate level for decay prevention. Dental sealants, plastic coatings applied to the chewing surfaces of the back teeth where most decay occurs, are another safe, effective way to prevent cavities. However, only about one-third of children aged 6–19 years have sealants. Although children from lower income families are almost twice as likely to have decay as those from higher income families, they are only half as likely to have sealants.

Here are some things you can do to ensure good oral health for your child:

ü Encourage your children to eat regular nutritious meals and avoid frequent between-meal snacking.

ü Protect your child’s teeth with fluoride.

ü Use a fluoride toothpaste. If your child is less than 7 years old, put only a pea-sized amount on their toothbrush. Seek advice from a dentist or other health care professional before introducing fluoride toothpaste to children under 2 years of age.

ü If your drinking water is not fluoridated, talk to a dentist or physician about the best way to protect your child’s teeth.

ü Talk to your child’s dentist about dental sealants. They protect teeth from decay.

ü Regularly floss teeth.

Proper tooth brushing is critically important to good dental hygiene. Parents can help their children practice proper tooth brushing by starting to clean teeth early, using the right amount of fluoride toothpaste, supervising tooth brushing, and talking to a pediatrician or dentist about a child’s specific fluoride needs.

Exercise 6.12. Critical Thinking Questions:

1. Define dental hygiene. What does it include?

2. Identify the major dental hygienic problems: tooth decay and periodontal diseases.

3. Describe the things you can do to ensure good oral health for you and for your child.

Exercise 6.13. Read the text “Dental Hygienist” and translate it into Russian:

Dental Hygienist

A career as a dental hygienist offers a wide range of challenges. In the dental office, the dentist and the dental hygienist work together to meet the oral health needs of patients. Since each state has its own specific regulations regarding their responsibilities, the range of services performed by hygienists varies from state to state.

Some of the services provided by dental hygienists may include:

• patient screening procedures; such as assessment of oral health conditions, review of the health history, oral cancer screening, head and neck inspection, dental charting and taking blood pressure and pulse
• taking and developing dental radiographs (x-rays)
• removing calculus and plaque (hard and soft deposits) from all surfaces of the teeth
• applying preventive materials to the teeth (e.g., sealants and fluorides)
• teaching patients appropriate oral hygiene strategies to maintain oral health (e.g., tooth brushing, flossing and nutritional counseling)
• counseling patients about good nutrition and its impact on oral health
• making impressions of patients' teeth for study casts (models of teeth used by dentists to evaluate patient treatment needs)
• performing documentation and office management activities

Career Advantages

Dental hygiene offers the following challenges and rewards:

Personal satisfaction: One of the most enjoyable aspects of a career in dental hygiene is working with people. Personal fulfillment comes from providing a valuable health care service while establishing trusting relationships with patients.

Prestige: As a result of their education and clinical training in a highly skilled discipline, dental hygienists are respected as valued members of the oral health care team.

Variety: Dental hygienists use a variety of interpersonal and clinical skills to meet the oral health needs of many different patients each day. Hygienists have opportunities to help special population groups such as children, the elderly and the disabled. They may also provide oral health instruction in primary and secondary schools and other settings.

Creativity: Because dental hygienists interact with such diverse population groups, they must be creative in their approach to patient management and oral health education.

Flexibility: The flexibility offered by full- and part-time employment options and availability of evening and weekend hours enable dental hygienists to balance their career and lifestyle needs. Hygienists also have opportunities to work in a wide variety of settings including private dental practices, educational and community institutions, research teams and dental corporations.

Security: The services that dental hygienists provide are needed and valued by a large percentage of the population. There is currently a great demand for dental hygienists. Employment opportunities will be excellent well into the future. Due to the success of preventive dentistry in reducing the incidence of oral disease, the expanding older population will retain their teeth longer, and will be even more aware of the importance of regular dental care. With the emphasis on preventive care, dentists will need to employ more dental hygienists than ever before to meet the increased demand for dental services.

Opportunities

Hygienists are in demand in general dental practices and in specialty practices such as periodontics or pediatric dentistry. They also may be employed to provide dental hygiene services for patients in hospitals, nursing homes and public health clinics.

Depending upon the level of education and experience achieved, dental hygienists can apply their skills and knowledge to other career activities such as teaching hygiene students in dental schools and dental hygiene education programs. Research, office management and business administration are other career options. Employment opportunities also may be available with companies that market dental-related materials and equipment.

Exercise 6.14. Critical Thinking Questions:

1. Define dental hygienist. What does he do?

2. Identify the services provided by dental hygienists.

3. Describe the career advantages and opportunities for dental hygienists.