Why do I need a hygiene appointment?

When you have come and visited us at Smile Welling for a check-up it could be that our dentist in Welling has recommended you book in for a hygiene appointment. Now we totally understand that being told you need to see a hygienist can feel a little embarrassing, and make a patient feel that they are in some way unclean, but this really isn’t the case. For lots of people it’s just about giving the teeth a good scale down to remove early signs of gum disease or that it’s just that your oral health routine just isn’t quite cutting the mustard.

What does a hygienist do?

A dental hygienist is a specialist when it comes to keeping teeth and gums in tip-top condition. They undergo specialist training in being able to identify issues that come from poor oral hygiene upkeep. They work with patients, firstly by providing a really deep clean, and secondly by educating them on how to keep their teeth and gums in pristine condition. Unlike our dentist in Welling they can’t perform surgery, or treatment plans for structural issues or advice on orthodontic treatments.

What happens in a dental hygiene appointment?

When you visit the practice you will be greeted by one of our lovely reception team. When you enter the practice room your dental hygienist will assess your teeth and gums to see how much plaque and tartar they need to remove and if you have any issues that need to be further addressed. When this process is happening it can be common for them to call out some numbers, this is nothing to worry about, it’s just their way of tracking what’s going on with your gums.

Once this process is complete they will work through deep cleaning each tooth individually and along the whole gum line. This is most commonly known as scaling and polishing.

After all the treatment has been completed, your hygienist will talk you through what they think you need to improve upon when it comes to your dental hygiene routine. It could be that you need to take up flossing and using interdental brushes to get in between the teeth better. Sometimes patients aren’t using the best technique when it comes to brushing itself - and your practitioner will be able to show you better ways in which to reach all around your teeth and gums.

Some dental hygienists will recommend you make a further appointment with your dentist in Welling if they suspect there are further issues with your teeth or that they think it would be beneficial for you to see someone else for a second opinion.

The benefits

Dental hygienist appointments are not only there to help cure conditions, but also offer a level of preventive care. Having regular six-monthly hygiene appointments can really help guard against the development of decay and gum disease. They can also help patients who suffer from bad breath or dulling to the colour of their teeth. Many patients leave hygiene appointments feeling like they’ve had a whitening treatment done, because the scale and polish give back such a lovely shine.

If you want to book in with one of our hygienists don’t hesitate to get in contact with a member of our reception team.