Lindsey Vizcay’s patients may come from very different backgrounds, but they share 1 thing in common: Health or logistical challenges that make it difficult to receive routine oral hygiene care. It’s for that very reason that Vizcay founded Home Sweet Hygiene, a mobile dental hygiene practice serving communities across Northern California.
Lately, Vizcay has been packing a new favorite tool in her traveling hygiene toolbox: NSK’s Perio-Mate. An air polishing system and biofilm remover that uses powder therapy for noncontact cleaning, Perio-Mate not only works efficiently but also provides a more comfortable experience for patients.
“This air polisher is an adjunctive tool,” shared Vizcay. “Especially for periodontally involved patients, it’s perfect for routine maintenance and biofilm removal. What I especially love is it’s very effective around implants, and it can reduce the need for extensive hand scaling.”
Easily attached to existing couplers, Perio-Mate uses a slim nozzle tip made for safety and operability, especially in narrow areas or between molars. With a 360º nozzle rotation and a fingertip-adjustable powder flow volume ring, Perio-Mate removes light stains using its noncontact operation, making it gentle on teeth, gums, and prosthetics.“
I had 1 patient who was very anxious about his implants,” said Vizcay, “and after we completed the treatment, he said, ‘Well, have you done it yet?’ That shows how comfortable this method is.”
Extensive Range of Applications
With an average particle diameter of 25 μm, the glycine-based Perio-Mate Powder is ideal in both supra- and subgingival areas, particularly between teeth as well as pits and fissures.
“Other air polishers use sodium bicarbonate powder, and the particles are large, abrasive, very salty, and not meant for subgingival use,” Vizcay said.
Water-soluble to prevent subgingival retention, Perio-Mate provides increased bacterial reduction, while its turbine technology offers an even, all-directional flow of powder for efficient biofilm removal, minimizing soft-tissue damage.
“The beautiful thing is that I can hit every surface with Perio-Mate,” Vizcay shared, “and because it’s mixed with water, it just rinses itself out. The taste is very pleasant. When I ask my patients, none of them want to go back to the traditional prophy cup and gritty polish. Perio-Mate is a one-of-a-kind tool that is truly raising our standard of care as hygienists. Patients love it—it’s a 10 out of 10!”
