This information was prepared by the British Dental Health Foundation which it hopes you will find of value as a basis to help discussion with your dentist. Further information is also available direct from the Foundation. Please send your question, together with a stamped addressed envelope to :
Q Dental hygienists are specially trained members of the dental team. They play an important role in dental health care, preventing dental disease by giving individual oral hygiene instruction to patient.
Q It is a term used to describe methods of cleaning the mouth by toothbrushing, flossing and other techniques.
Q Hygienists have two main roles - scaling and polishing teeth and teaching patients oral hygiene techniques. They work with the dentist to establish and maintain a programme tailored to meet your specific needs and skills.
Q Good home care is important if gum disease and tooth decay are not to progress to more serious problems. A clean and healthy mouth will help to improve your appearance and self-confidence, and will also give you fresh breath making you nice to be near.
Q Hygienists are trained to help prevent dental disease by demonstrating how to care for your teeth and gums and advising on diet. However, this is just part of the preventive technique.
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Hygienists can apply fluoride in solution and gel form to teeth. They can also help to prevent decay by applying fissure sealant to teeth.
Fissure sealant is a plastic material which is bonded to the biting surface of back teeth and this helps protect them from decay.
Q When treating adults the hygienist will remove calculus (tartar) by cleaning teeth meticulously. This is known as "scaling and polishing". With correct home care and regular monitoring by the dentist and hygienist it is possible to keep your teeth for life.
Q The dentist may refer you to the hygienist as they are able to spend more time on the scaling and polishing of your teeth. The hygienist has been specifically trained to teach you how to look after your mouth and guide you to the perfect cleaning regime.
Q
Scaling and polishing teeth should be pain-free but some people have very sensitive teeth. If you do experience discomfort it is important that you tell the hygienist. Arrangements can sometimes be made for you to have some form of pain control for the areas that are very uncomfortable.
Peolple with sensive teeth find that with the modern techniques available
at this practice, like the Air
Flow Handy cleaning system, hygienist visits becomes a much more
pleasurable experience.
Q The costs of treatment by hygienist will vary depending on the type of treatment that is carried out. But in any case, treatment by the hygienist costs less than having the eqivalent time spent on treatment carried out by the dentist. The dentist will inform you of the cost at the start of treatment.
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Yes, you can do a great deal to help yourself because you are in control or your oral hygiene between visits to the dental practice.
Your hygienist will show you a daily routine for removing plaque from you mouth involving thorough cleaning with medium textured toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste. you will also be shown how to remove plaque from between teeth with floss, wood sticks or a small inter-space brush. There are a wide range of oral hygiene products available and your hygienist will be pleased to recommend the most appropriate products for you.
Your hygienist can also discuss the effect sugars can have on the dental health and help you to reduce the frequency of eating and drinking products containing sugars.
Q Not all practices have a hygienist. However an increasing number now offer this service using either a part-time or full-time hygienist. Hygienists are able to work in dental practices, hospital dental units and the community dental service.
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What is a dental hygienist?
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