Hygienist

Promoting good oral hygiene to all our patients is the philosophy at the core of our preventative dental care. Regular visits to our expert hygienist will help keep your teeth and gums healthy, your smile whiter and your breath fresher.

Hygiene appointments involve a deep clean to remove tartar and plaque safely from your teeth, reducing the chance of gum disease progressing. As visits to the hygienist are so essential in the defence against gum disease, you can make an appointment to see one of our hygienists directly without seeing one of our dentists first. Although it is preferable to have regular dental check-ups as well.

What is gum disease?

Indications of gum disease may include; bleeding gums, tender gums, receding gums, very red or swollen gums, overly mobile wobbly teeth and bad breath.

Noticed that your gums bleed when you brush? Bleeding gums are the main symptom for gum disease. When plaque build-ups aren’t properly removed, bacteria causes the surrounding gum tissues to react. This makes the gums appear red, inflamed and can start to bleed when brushing.

This early stage of gum disease is called gingivitis and can be cured through hygiene appointments. By removing the deposits of plaque and bacteria, the gums can recover.

If left untreated, gingivitis can progress to periodontitis which is more damaging and harder to treat. It can be treated through regular, deep cleaning under the gum line and around the tooth roots. Combined with a good oral hygiene maintenance regime at home, which our hygienist will help you achieve.

Also it is now believed that unhealthy gums can have a direct impact on people’s general health.

What happens during a hygiene appointment?

During an appointment, the hygienist will assess the health of your gums and teeth and look for any signs of swelling, inflammation or bleeding. The hygienist may also take measurements to see where the gum attaches to the tooth and check for signs of oral cancer or other medical conditions related to the mouth.

A chief part of a hygienist’s role is to carry out a ‘scale and polish’ to remove any build-up of plaque and tartar. The hygienist uses specially designed implements to remove tartar from the tooth surface and underneath the gum line. When all the surfaces are clean, they polish teeth with a special paste, leaving them feeling silky smooth and fresh.

Hygienists also offer helpful hygiene advice and demonstrate how to keep your teeth and mouth healthy. They will advise on the use of different toothbrushes, interdental brushes, floss and mouthwash. In addition, they provide dietary and smoking cessation advice.

We will help you form positive oral hygiene habits

Our Hygienists will help you form new positive dental hygiene habits to maintain a healthy mouth and a confident smile that looks and feels so much better. Their dedication to detail ensures that your teeth are cleaned thoroughly in places that would not be reached by brushing alone.