Hygienist

We advise many of our patients to have regular visits with the dental hygienist who will help maintain the health of your mouth. The role of the hygienist is to clean around and under the gum line (a scale and polish) to remove plaque and tartar, and perhaps most importantly to help educate you – with the knowledge and skills necessary to maintain a healthy mouth and fresh breath in between appointments.

What do Hygienists do?

Hygienists are key members of the Dental team. We know that prevention is better than a cure, and the hygienist plays a very important role in this prevention. Professional plaque removal and excellent home care is crucial to the prevention and treatment of gum (periodontal) disease and the problems it causes, which are caused solely by the build-up of dental plaque.

Plaque itself is soft and will come off with a brush, but is often missed because of imperfect cleaning techniques. The hygienist will help you to address this, discussing any dietary issues which may be contributing to dental decay. In our experience, patients who have previously suffered problems with decay often experience far less when under regular hygienist care. Hygienists are also able to apply fissure sealants (special plastic coatings) to the biting surfaces of teeth to help prevent decay, and also to apply topical fluoride gels to help prevent decay in other areas.

Key points to remember

• Hygienists vary enormously in their approach. It is important to find a hygienist you feel comfortable with and are happy to see on a regular basis.
• Treatment of gum disease is not a simple quick–fix process, and a series of appointments are often needed with the hygienist before things are fully under control.
• You need to actively work together with your hygienist to achieve your goal.
• Occasionally, patients with advanced gum (periodontal) disease who do not respond to treatment may have to be referred to a gum specialist (Periodontist).