Dental Hygiene
Direct Access Dental Hygiene Appointments
In 2013, The General Dental Council permitted patients to directly access services from a dental hygienist without the need for a referral from a prescribing dentist.
- This means that you can now self refer yourself to see a hygienist for one off scale and polish treatments.
- During this appointment, the hygienist will provide oral hygiene advice, remove staining and tartar.
For full details and to refer yourself for this service, please call the practice on 01865 370375.
What to expect at a Dental Hygiene Appointment
The hygienist’s aim is to help you maintain a healthy mouth by preventing and treating gum disease. This includes:
- Professionally cleaning your teeth by removing plaque and tartar.
- Showing you the best way to keep your teeth free of plaque.
- Hygienists also give advice about diet and about preventing tooth decay.
- The hygienist will work with the dental team to give you care that is tailored to your needs.
Your hygienist or dentist will advise you on what preventative measures to take, including using a suitable toothbrush, flossing to remove any food debris and rinsing the mouth with an antiseptic mouthwash.
There are several ways of ensuring that your teeth and gums stay healthy:
- Coating the teeth with fluoride or using fluoride-based toothpaste can help to strengthen and protect them and is proven to protect against tooth decay and disease.
- Brushing, flossing, the application of fluoride mouthwashes.
- Another factor is following a healthy diet which is low in sugar yet high in fibre.
If you don’t follow a dental hygiene routine or are half-hearted about it then the consequences can impact on both your oral and general health. Tooth decay, dental cavities, periodontal gum disease and halitosis (bad breath) are just some of the problems that can arise.
So, the answer is to take care of your teeth and gums on a regular basis. Make visiting your dentist for check-ups, and our hygienist for a deep clean, a regular part of your routine.
Getting into good habits early
If possible, these habits should be started from an early age. If you have children then encourage them to brush their teeth as soon as they are able. If they are very young – as in infants then you can do this for them by using a soft cloth to clean their teeth.
For further information on any of these services or to book an appointment, contact us on 01865 370375.
