Dental hygiene appointments are often overlooked or substituted for visits to the dentist. A shocking third of adults in the UK have never visited the hygienist, exposing them to the potential need for serious intervention later on down the line.
Scaling and polishing
Scale and polish treatment is one of your hygienist’s key roles as it removes deposits such as plaque and tartar (that cannot be removed through brushing alone) from tooth surfaces. The regular removal of these deposits will reduce your chances of developing gingivitis, a mild form of gum disease and prevent this from evolving into periodontitis, a more severe form of gum disease. The regular removal of these deposits is known as prophylaxis.
Who needs to attend hygienist appointments?
Even if you are at minimal risk of developing gum disease, it is still recommended that you attend regular hygienist appointments. Not all plaque and tartar is visible simply by looking in the mirror and no matter how well you maintain your teeth, you are still susceptible to some form of build up at some point throughout your life.
A hygienist’s educational role in your oral hygiene
A dental hygienist can offer advice on how to improve your oral hygiene routine and understand that every patient’s needs are different. If you have difficulty flossing or aren’t sure of the correct technique, your hygienist here at Corner House Dental can help. The same applies to brushing – many patients brush for the recommended 2 minutes twice a day and are surprised when told their oral hygiene is poor. This is very often down to brushing technique and neglecting to floss and use mouthwash.
Other roles associated with a dental hygienist
– Taking impressions for cosmetic or orthodontic treatments/radiographs of teeth.
– Apply antibacterial materials and fissure sealants to help prevent tooth decay.
– Carry out monitoring and screening procedures.
– Work closely with your dentist to decide on the most relevant type of care needed.
– Keep up-to-date with new technologies and developments in the industry in order to offer the highest level of care.
If you would like more information about hygienist appointments at Corner House Dental here in Norwich, please do not hesitate to contact us.