DENTAL HYGIENIST

What is a dental hygienist?

A dental hygienist is a highly skilled member of the dental team who specialises in the preventive aspect of dental health. She works in tandem with the dentists to help you maintain a healthy mouth and retain your teeth for life. The hygienist is a clinician, treating and preventing gum diseases and tooth decay and a communicator/educator, teaching and motivating patients to achieve good oral hygiene, including denture care.

The hygienist's primary role is to thoroughly assess the health of your gums, bones and oral hygiene so that you are aware of your oral health status and future disease risk. A consequent treatment plan, including preventive advice is made from this assessment. As part of the treatment, our hygienist will thoroughly clean your teeth (scale & polish), whereby all plaque, tartar (calculus) and staining is removed from your teeth. In addition, our hygienist will provide advice on how to keep your teeth clean, provide dietary advice, smoking cessation advice and place fissure sealants into newly erupted teeth in children.

Why do I need to see the dental hygienist?

During your dental check up, as well as checking the health of your teeth, your dentist will assess the health of your gums, underlying bones and the standard of your oral hygiene. If the risk of developing gum/bone disease is high, or if you show signs of gum disease or if your dentist feels you need advice on improving your oral hygiene, you will be referred to the dental hygienist. As more teeth are lost (in adults) due to gum disease than tooth decay, it is considered negligent if the dentist does not offer you a hygienist appointment, especially if you have advanced gum disease.

Why can’t my dentist do this work?

Some dentists can and do carry our this type of work, but it is time consuming. As hygienists are trained to carry out this treatment to a high standard, they can dedicate more time to the necessary treatment, leading to a better understanding of your gum condition and thus increasing the chances to control and improve your oral health.

What will happen at my appointment?

Our hygienist will look at the way you clean your teeth and assess the condition of your gums and underlying bones. A thorough explanation is given of your current gum condition, the risk and future risk of disease and where appropriate, our hygienist will recommend types of toothbrushes, medicaments and other oral aids. Your teeth will be thoroughly cleaned by removing all plaque bacteria and calculus from your teeth and from the roots of the teeth if present. Your teeth will also be polished to remove any staining. If you have advanced gum disease or a lot of calculus and staining, you may need a number of appointments to complete removal. The treatment is usually painless, but if preferred, the gums can be numbed prior to treatment.

How will I benefit from seeing the dental hygienist ?

Research has shown that thorough and regular professional cleaning of your teeth, will help you to maintain a healthy mouth and stop gum disease progressing. Not only will you benefit from a healthy mouth, but you may also improve your appearance and confidence. You'll have fresh breath and of course also be able to keep your teeth for longer. In addition, healthy gums and teeth make it easier for you to maintain good cleaning habits at home.

Smilemakers follows a team approach to your dental care. Although the health of your mouth is your responsibility, the dentist and hygienist offer clinical care in different areas. The dentists can dedicate more of their time to other specialist areas of dentistry, whilst the hygienist can dedicate time to helping you improve your oral health.