Hygienist Appointments

Same Day Appointments Available

So what is a hygiene visit? 

Dental hygienists are specially trained clinicians that clean teeth professionally, which is usually referred to as scaling and polishing. The hygienist plays a vital role in the dental team, and perhaps their most important task is showing patients the best way to keep their teeth free of plaque. A hygienist can also give advice on diet and preventing dental decay and maintaining gum health. A dental hygiene visit is also a preventative measure for any decline in oral health, such as bleeding gums, as the build up of calculi can begin to cause dental problems.

Calculus can form both above and below the gum line. Supragingival calculus (above the gum line) is the visible deposit that forms on the surface of the teeth. Subgingival calculus (below the gum line) forms in pockets between teeth and gums. It is more harmful as it facilitates faster growth of plaque.

Without regular dental hygiene visits you will find that saliva, debris minerals, and plaque begin to form heavy deposits of calculus or tartar. These rough surface textures provide an ideal medium for plaque formation, bacterial growth. This in turn causes inflammation of the gums and can lead to gum recession. Calculus also absorbs non-aesthetic stains far more easily than natural teeth.

What to expect at the appointment

The hygienist  will use a small mirror to inspect your teeth before treatment.  The hygienist uses a scaler to remove plaque and tartar build up from the teeth and gum line. The more of a build up of  tartar and plaque there is around your teeth and gums, the more time the hygienist will need to remove the build up. Brushing and flossing stops plaque from building up and hardening into tartar.  So if this is your least favourite part of the teeth cleaning process, the lesson is to brush and floss more often, as well as the routine visits to the dentist. Our hygienist will let you know when to book the next visit.