General Dentistry
Dental Hygiene
Your smile won’t just look great, it will last longer too.
It’s not just about appearances, there are a number of reasons why good dental hygiene can give you a longer lasting smile. Great dental hygiene can keep everybody very happy; you, your dentist, and obviously your dental hygienist.
In fact, it’s the most successful way of preventing long-term dental problems. It also ensures that any treatments you receive will be effective and long-lasting. Needless to say, it also helps to raise your general level of wellbeing.
Our dental hygienists are long-standing members of the Shields team. Their exceptionally gentle, empathic approach is popular with patients who find regular dental hygiene check-ups to be an entirely stress-free experience.
Role of the Dental Hygienist.
Our highly trained Hygienists deliver regular aesthetic cleans along with the following:
- Maintenance of gingival issues
- Prescribed periodontal treatment for more advanced gum disease
- Tooth whitening
- Fissure sealants
Dental education.
They also educate patients on brushing and flossing to remove plaque. Leaving plaque unchecked can result in the crusty deposit calculus that only dental professionals can remove.
Other roles of the dental hygienist include offering advice on how to use dental tools such as floss, brush and mouthwash correctly. It is important to get the best out of them and not have a false sense of security about your dental health. Tooth decay and gum disease will often be the result when poor brushing and flossing techniques are used.
Preserve your smile and overall health.
Regular appointments with your dental hygienist here at Shields Dental & Orthodontic Clinics, will ensure that you maintain polished, clean and smooth teeth.
They will also help prevent the onset of calculus that leads to cavities, gingivitis, gum disease and more serious dental problems.
Halitosis and lifestyle.
The help of a dental hygienist can also combat complications with bad breath (halitosis). Sometimes problems with bad breath originate due to dietary choices.
Halitosis can also be tied to a type of condition or as a result of a dry mouth. Bad breath can have a negative impact on your self-esteem. However, many patients report that their confidence has been restored after making the recommended changes to their lifestyle.
Dental Hygiene FAQs
A clean and healthy mouth will improve your appearance and give you fresh breath. Research has shown that good cleaning significantly reduces the risk of new cavities, gum recession, food trapping and teeth drifting. Even if you are very meticulous with your cleaning routine, it is still possible to miss areas that need cleaning, especially if you have an overcrowded mouth or find it hard to reach all of your tooth surfaces. Our dental hygienist uses special industry-designed tools and equipment to perform a more thorough clean even if you use a powerful electric tooth brush.
The treatment is usually pain free, however if you do have any discomfort the hygienist can use anaesthetic gels or local anaesthetic.
Our dental hygienist will look out for and monitor gum disease and give personalised advice on toothbrushing and cleaning in between your teeth. This may include advice on quitting smoking (smoking increases risk of gum disease and tooth loss), on diet and nutrition, and on using fluoride agents to strengthen teeth.They will also provide advice on gadgets from the latest power toothbrushes to water-flossing devices that can make it easier to keep teeth and gums healthy. If you have gum disease, they may carry out deep scaling (called root surface debridement), seal fissures as well as apply special antimicrobial rinses and paint-on agents to help control gum disease and prevent tooth decay.
Yes, your dental implants need to be cared for in the same way as natural teeth to prolong their life. You should look after them much the same as natural teeth but you should pay particular attention to the implant sites. Brushing twice a day, flossing and regular hygiene appointments will help keep them healthy.