iTOP Oral Hygiene Education
Caring for the health of our teeth and the surrounding oral tissues should begin in early childhood. Ideally, a child’s first visit to the dentist should take place when the first baby teeth begin to erupt. Unfortunately, in Croatia a large number of people — partly due to lack of personal care and partly due to insufficient dental prevention programs — find themselves trapped in a cycle of dental pain and fear of the dentist. This fear is very often (consciously or unconsciously) passed on to children.
A child’s first encounters with the dentist should focus solely on familiarization with the dentist and the dental office. This approach helps prevent fear of unfamiliar instruments and sounds. Building a trusting relationship between the child and the dentist is essential so that, if tooth decay occurs, it can be treated without trauma for either the child or the parent. Equally important is educating both parents and children about proper oral hygiene techniques and maintaining long-term motivation for daily oral care.
The goal of our work with children as well as adults is to eliminate fear and prevent the development of dental caries and periodontal diseases through iTOP education, which we systematically provide to every patient.
iTOP education (Individual Training in Oral Prophylaxis) is primarily based on proper daily oral hygiene, which includes complete removal of biofilm (dental plaque) from hard tooth surfaces using correct brushing techniques and the use of interdental brushes and dental floss.
We can conclude that oral health primarily depends on education and awareness of both current and future patients, as well as on regular visits to a conscientious dentist.
