Dental Hygienist

Hygienists usually focus on identifying and treating gum disease. Our hygienist specialists are highly skilled clinicians, trained in the management of all forms of gum disease. Their expertise lies in the ability to stabilise mild to severe forms of gum disease.

They do not solely focus on treating gum disease, hygienists are mainly concerned with preventative dental health and showing all their patients correct home care so they do not form any oral health issues. 

How often you need to attend the hygienist will vary from case to case. We generally recommend scheduling appointments with three month intervals for better monitoring and maximum dental health care. However, depending on your individual circumstance, your hygienist will advise you on how often you need an appointment with them.

No, hygienist services cannot replace your current oral health routine. It is still absolutely vital to regularly brush and floss your teeth after each meal, even if you attend a hygienist. 

You can find out more information on the best dental health routines here.

Although we aim for all our procedures to be as pain-free as possible, some hygiene treatments can often feel uncomfortable, or even painful. Patients with poor dental hygiene may experience more pain than others for the first few sessions with the hygienist. 

As your oral health improves, the discomfort during your appointments will lessen over time. Patients with sensitive teeth may also experience some discomfort.

Don’t be afraid to talk to your hygienist if you have any questions or concerns, we will aim to make your treatment as pain-free as possible.

Our dental hygiene appointments will last approximately 30 minutes and they will consist of a detailed assessment of the gums and supporting structures of your teeth. From this initial assessment, we can then identify if there are any issues that need to be addressed. 

In addition to this, the hygienist will be able to provide a deep clean to ensure both your gums and teeth are clean.

Our hygiene appointments usually take up to 30 minutes.

In the event that you do undergo a fluoride treatment, avoid stressing your teeth while trying to heal from the cleaning. It would be a good idea to wait at least 30 minutes after the cleaning before eating or drinking anything. This is to ensure that the treatments take full effect and the teeth have been able to absorb and remineralise the fluoride completely. 

No, smoking is never recommended. If you are a smoker, make sure that you avoid smoking for at least 72 hours after your deep cleaning procedure. 

Smoking interferes with the way your gums tissues heal to begin with. It will especially negatively affect the post-surgical healing of the tissues and also increases the risk of infection.

You can brush and floss your teeth before your appointment, it will not do you any harm. However, it is important to know that if you are scheduled for a regular cleaning, your dental hygienist will be assigned to thoroughly floss your teeth regardless of whether you floss before hand or not. 

Whether you have a hygienist appointment or not, it is important to keep up with your daily oral hygiene routine of brushing and flossing twice a day.

You need to see a dental hygienist to:

• Prevent bad breath: if you are experiencing bad breath, it is usually a result of an underlying dental problem.
• Prevent gum disease if you have bleeding or painful gums.
• Detect any other dental issues if you have been experiencing problems with your teeth.
• Get a whiter smile
• Improve teeth sensitivity
• Spot any signs of cancer
• Stop bleeding gums 

• Help prevent and treat gum disease
• Removes any plaque and calculus with professional cleaning
• Teaches at home cleaning techniques to main good oral hygiene

Gum disease (gingivitis) is very common and at the same time very easily treatable. If not treated, it can result in a more severe form of disease known as periodontitis, which involves bone loss. This can be very difficult to treat and, if excessive, can result in recession of gums, wobbly teeth and ultimately tooth loss. Gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss in the UK and for this reason, it is important to maintain healthy gums and prevent the progression of gum disease.

No, hygienist services cannot replace your current oral health routine. It is still absolutely vital to regularly brush and floss your teeth after each meal, even if you attend a hygienist.