Hygienist Appointments
Dental hygienists are an integral part of elevating and maintaining your oral healthcare.
The Important Role of Dental Hygienists
Approximately 90 percent of people do not brush their teeth properly, which affects overall oral health. Thorough and proper cleaning by a dental hygienist improves your oral hygiene, reduces the risk of dental problems, brightens your teeth and freshens your breath.
Dental hygienists have the tools, training and expertise to clean your teeth much better than you can at home. These experts in dental hygiene not only help you achieve better oral health but can advise you on better brushing techniques and tools to use at home.
Preventative Dental Care
Protecting your dental hygiene is crucial to prevent decay, gum disease and other issues that may create more complex problems in the future. By taking the correct measures to protect your teeth, you could avoid dealing with advanced treatments in the future.
Preventative dental care is a combination of regular dental check-ups along with developing and maintaining good habits like brushing and flossing.
Benefits of Seeing the Dental Hygienist
When you regularly see the dental hygienist, it helps with the following:
What to Expect During a Dental Hygiene Appointment
On average, your hygiene appointment will take around 30 to 60 minutes. Dental hygienists pack a lot of value into this time.
When you first sit in the chair, the hygienist begins the appointment by reviewing your medical history, notes any medications you currently take, what your dental history looks like and asks if you have any concerns about your oral health. The hygienist will then examine your teeth and check for any forms of decay before beginning hygiene treatment.
Next, we give a scale and polish treatment by either electronic or hand instrument, where the hygienist removes plaque from teeth. Using a special paste, your dental hygienist will polish your teeth, making them feel smooth and clean. After this process, your hygienist will discuss different factors to keep teeth and gums healthy, such as nutrition, lifestyle, brushing and flossing.
Your hygiene appointment is an excellent time for your hygienist to determine an ongoing cleaning schedule and identify any issues that need to be addressed.
How Often Should You See the Dental Hygienist?
We recommend that patients have a hygiene appointment at least every six months. As a golden rule, we recommend that patients visit the dentist at this frequency to keep on top of dental hygiene and detect any issues early.
However, some patients need more than two hygienist appointments each year. Other factors — such as diet, bad oral habits and gum disease — can affect the frequency of your appointments. In these cases, we recommend dental hygienist appointments based on your unique needs.
Book Your Next Dental Hygienist Appointment
Every dental practice in the South Cliff Dental Group provides comprehensive dental hygiene appointments. Whether you are in or around Sussex, Kent, Southampton, Hampshire or Wiltshire, a South Cliff dental practice is nearby.
For more information on hygiene visits or other dental treatments, please contact us to get in touch with a South Cliff dental practice near you.