Preventative Dentistry » Dental Hygiene
Alongside your dentist, a dental hygienist provides vital care and advice to help you look after your smile. Specially-trained members of the dental team, hygienists' core focus is on preventative dental healthcare and on treating gum disease. Not all dental practices have resident hygienists, but at Park Lane Dental we have Corinne Tavares.
Hygienist treatment is not available on the NHS but is available to all patients privately, and is beneficial to both adults and children. Your dentist can also carry out tooth cleaning to remove plaque and tartar, depending on the severity of your condition.
The main role of the hygienist is the prevention and treatment of gum disease, one of the primary causes of tooth loss for adults in the UK. Gum disease is a very common condition and most people will suffer from the milder form, gingivitis, at some point in life. Early symptoms include blood on your toothbrush or in your rinsing water when you brush your teeth.
Gum disease is caused by the build-up of plaque and tartar on the teeth. Regular visits to your hygienist will help to spot gum disease early, and will stop it developing into the more serious form of the condition, periodontitis, which can lead to tooth loss.
At your dental hygiene appointment, your hygienist will thoroughly scale and polish your teeth to remove all plaque and tartar, particularly important for areas that are difficult to reach at home and also for patients who wear braces, which can be difficult to clean around.
Your hygienist will also give you home care advice, including the best brushes, products and techniques to use to keep your mouth healthy.