Hygiene appointments in Thorpe Bay

Your dental health routine isn’t complete without regular hygiene appointments to see a dental hygienist or dental therapist. They can get to those hard-to-reach places to provide a professional deep clean – even where the best electric toothbrushes can’t get to. And, it puts you in the best position to find any problems before symptoms start to show or require treatment.

What does a dental hygienist do?

A dental hygienist or dental therapist can remove harmful plaque and deposits of tartar that, if left, can cause periodontal (gum) disease and other gum and tooth complications.

As prevention is better than cure, they can also identify early signs of tooth decay or gum inflammation – so these can be dealt with sooner rather than later. If your dental hygienist notices any problems, they will provide guidance or treatment themselves or refer you to your dentist for further advice or treatment. They can also recommend that you see your GP if they spot any signs of other health conditions, such as diabetes.

What happens at my hygienist appointment?

The first stage of your hygiene appointment will involve a visual check-up to get an overall picture of your dental health
Your dental hygienist or dental therapist will then use specially designed tools to carefully and gently scrape away the build-up of plaque and tartar from the surface of your teeth and around the gum line (scaling)
Hand-held mirrors will help them see every area of your mouth to check overall gum health, and so they’re able clean all the surfaces of your teeth
Your dental hygienist or dental therapist could also provide a ‘shine and polish’ with a gentle air polisher to remove any surface stains (in cases where there is tooth decay, they could apply fluoride or an antibacterial gel too)

How often should I have hygiene appointments?

You should have hygiene appointments at least as regularly as you visit your dentist to ensure you maintain the very best dental health. Your dental hygienist or dental therapist will advise you on how often is best for your needs.

At your dental health check-up, your dentist will assess whether you need to see a dental hygienist or dental therapist. If they think you do, they will refer you to one.