Regular visits to your hygienist put you in the best position for detecting any oral health problems before they become symptomatic or require treatment. Hygienists are trained to thoroughly clean your teeth and gums. Even the best electric toothbrush can’t reach every part of your mouth, and a hygienist can get to those hard-to-reach places to provide a professional deep clean. While you will leave your hygienist appointment with a fresher, cleaner smile, their job goes far beyond the superficial. A scale and polish will remove harmful plaque and deposits of tartar that, if left, can cause periodontal (gum) disease. By making a hygienist visit a part of your dental care regime, you can stay one step ahead. As a result, you can avoid becoming one of the 19 out of every 20 people who will suffer from gum disease during their life.
An appointment with one of our hygienists will involve an initial oral hygiene check-up, followed by a ‘scaling’ procedure. This is where any build-up of harmful plaque and tartar is carefully and gently removed from the surface of your teeth and around the gum line using scalers and curettes, which are specially designed tools to check scrape away soft deposits. Hand-held mirrors help your hygienist spot those missed areas and pinpoint plaque build-up. Following a good clean and analysis of overall gum health, they will give your teeth a shine and polish using a gentle, quiet air polisher to remove any superficial stains. In cases of decay, a hygienist may apply fluoride or an antibacterial gel.
Prevention is better than cure, and identifying early signs of tooth decay or gum inflammation enables your practitioner to address the problem swiftly. In addition to a thorough scale and polish, your dental hygienist will also provide a complete check of your overall oral health.
