|
The hygienist's main role is to provide professional
cleaning of the teeth for the patient. This is usually
called scaling and polishing. However, perhaps their
most important role is the education of the patient
in the best way to keep the teeth free of plaque. Our
hygienists work closely with the dentist and nurses
to provide care tailored to your needs.
Regular professional cleaning combined with your home
care will help maintain a healthy mouth. A clean and
healthy mouth will improve your appearance, help you
keep your teeth and give you fresh breath. Poor gum
health is now known to be related to heart problems
later in life.
The training of the hygienist is centred around preventing
dental disease( Gum disease and tooth decay). Carefully
removing the deposits that build up on the teeth (tartar)
and teaching you how to prevent it reforming again,
will go a long way to slowing the progress of gum disease.
By discussing your diet and recommending other preventive
measures your decay rate can also be reduced. Remember
prevention is free - you do it yourself!
Children can benefit from having their teeth polished
and being shown how to brush correctly. Techniques
learned as a child will be used throughout life. The
hygienist can apply fluoride gels and solutions to
help prevent decay. The permanent back teeth can benefit
from having the fissures sealed. This is done by applying
a special plastic coating to the biting surface soon
after they erupt into the mouth.
|
 |
Adults can benefit
from preventive measures such as the application of
fluoride. They can also have anti-bacterial gels and
solutions applied under the gum to kill the bacteria
causing gum disease.
Another very important
part of the hygienist's work, is the regular instruction
and advice on home care. The hygienist may suggest
giving up smoking as this will reduce staining. Recent
research has shown that smokers have more gum disease
and lose more teeth than non-smokers.
Some dentists will
carry out this type of work. However, many now recognise
that the hygienist has been specially trained to carry
out scaling and polishing and can spend longer with
you. They are expert at teaching you how to look after
your teeth and gums. Often the hygienist will spend
a number of appointments getting the gums healthy ready
for the dentist to restore the teeth with crowns and
fillings.
Scaling and polishing
is usually pain-free. However, if you do experience
some discomfort the hygienist can eliminate this with
the use of topical anaesthetic creams or by giving
you some local anaesthetic. It is important that you
let the hygienist know at the time so that some pain
control can be given.
 |
|
|
|
| |
Choose another treatment
below:
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
