SOUTH WEYMOUTH, MA…
In major league baseball, it’s the designated hitter rule versus pitchers hitting for themselves. In dental circles, it’s the electric toothbrush versus the manual toothbrush. For people like South Weymouth dentist Dr. Richard Wolfert, they say throw out the manual—toothbrush, that is.
South Weymouth Dentist Dr. Richard Wolfert, DMD, AKA “The Toothboss” is an electric toothbrush advocate and offers winners of his Smiling Neighbor program the choice between a gift card to a local restaurant and a Sonicare electric toothbrush.
“A few choose the electric toothbrush, but most choose the gift card,” said Dr. Wolfert, whose practice is located at 1121 Main Street in South Weymouth. “That’s too bad because the benefits of using an electric toothbrush far outweigh a meal at a five-star restaurant.”
Dr. Wolfert prefers the electric brush because it uses ultrasonic motions, enabling users to brush hard-to-reach places. And since it’s powered by a battery, the consistent movement of the bristles minimizes or eliminates the accumulation of plaque and food debris that cause gum disease.
One part of a standard examination is evaluation of the effectiveness of a patient’s brushing. If a patient shows signs of being ineffective with a manual brush, Dr. Wolfert often recommends an electric toothbrush to get them on the right track.
“Many times, I can tell whether someone is lefthanded or righthanded by looking at their gums. If they are righthanded, you can see more inflammation and sometimes more recession on the left side of their mouth as they are more likely to not be as effective to their weak side. If the electric brush is used properly, its effectiveness is readily apparent throughout the mouth and the tissues look very healthy,” said Wolfert.
Patients often rush through their home care regimen and this is another area where an electric toothbrush comes in handy. Dentists recommend brushing your teeth for one to two minutes per brushing, with the preference being for two minutes. Since the electric toothbrush provides the power, people who use electric brushes brush longer, which minimizes many of the aforementioned issues.
“It’s really not a question of should you or should you not use an electric toothbrush but if we’ve determined you are candidate, why aren’t you?” said Dr. Wolfert. “Cost is an issue, but price has come down in recent years and you can get a very reasonably priced brush for $60. And with the holidays coming up, you could do a lot worse than giving someone you love an electric toothbrush as a gift.”
While cost might be an issue for some, Dr. Wolfert cited the amazing transformation of a patient who made the switch. Before using an electric toothbrush, he was a candidate for expensive and painful gum recession prevention treatments. After the switch, the recession has stabilized.
The Toothboss uses Sonicare as its preferred electric toothbrush vendor. For more information, you can contact The Toothboss at 781-335-0604.
For more information on The Toothboss, you can visit Dr. Wolfert’s website at www.toothboss.com.
About The Toothboss
The Toothboss offers: comprehensive examinations (written treatment and treatment plan provided); cosmetics; crowns, bridges and tooth-colored restorations; partial and full dentures; periodontics (early cases treated); oral surgery; restoration of conventional and small diameter implants; and emergency services (24-hour emergency phone number available).
The Toothboss accepts most insurance plans. They also accept payment from most PPO and indemnity plans, including Blue Cross/Blue Shield and Delta Dental. They also accept all major credit cards and have arranged payment plans through Springstone.
To schedule an initial consultation, please call 781-335-0604. For more information, visit www.toothboss.com.