The hygienist
Other treatments
What is a Dental Hygienist?
Dental hygienists are specially trained members of the dental team. They play an important role in dental healthcare, preventing dental disease by giving individual oral hygiene instruction to patients.
Following a scale and polish, many people describe a visit to the dental hygienist to be something of a treat, and a pleasant experience. Leaving the hygienist ,you will feel that your mouth is clean and fresh, and know that you can have the right products and support to keep this feeling at home, until you visit the hygienist again.
Why is it important?
A clean and healthy mouth will help to improve your appearance and self confidence, it will also give you fresh breath making you nice to be near. Good home care is important if gum disease and tooth decay are not to progress to more serious problems.
How can a hygienist help prevent disease?
Hygienists are trained to help prevent dental disease by demonstrating how to care for your teeth and gums and advising on diet. However, this is just part of the preventive technique.
What help is available for children?
The hygienist can help to prevent decay by applying fissure sealants to teeth. Fissure sealant is a plastic material which is bonded to the biting surface of back teeth and this helps protect them from decay.
Can help be given to adults?
When treating adults, the hygienist will remove calculus (tartar) by cleaning the teeth meticulously. This is known as ‘scaling and polishing’. With correct home care and regular monitoring by the dentist and hygienist it is possible to keep your teeth for life. The hygienist specialises in achieving ‘good oral health’, helping solve any gum-related problems you may have.
Is there anything I can do to help the hygienist?
You can do a great deal to help yourself because you are in control of your oral hygiene between visits to the dental practice.
Your hygienist will show you a daily routine for removing plaque from your mouth involving thorough cleaning with a medium textured toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste. You will also be shown how to remove plaque from between your teeth with floss or a small inter-space brush.
There are a wide range of products available and your hygienist will be pleased to recommend the most appropriate products for you.
TIPS FOR A HEALTHY MOUTH