Dental hygienists are University trained dental health professionals that play an important part in dental health care. They specialise in the prevention and treatment of gum disease and work alongside your dentist to help diagnose any dental issues that need addressing as well as providing a treatment plans designed to support you to keep your mouth healthy.
Many of you may know that the hygienist’s main role is to clean teeth, known as ‘scaling and polishing’. This is the removal of soft plaque deposits and the hard buildup of tartar followed by a polish to remove any stains and leave the teeth feeling fresh and smooth.
However what is less understood is that their most important role is to promote and maintain good oral health, showing you correct home care and the most effective ways to keep the teeth free of plaque bacteria that constantly forms on teeth. There are so many oral care products in the market these days including special toothpastes, mouthwashes and powered toothbrushes that it can become quite confusing, your Moss Vale Dental Hygienist will recommend what’s best for you.
During your appointment, the hygienist will check for the presence of disease or any abnormalities in and around the mouth. Dental hygienists play a crucial role in the early detection and prevention of oral cancers especially because they tend to see patients on a regular basis. As a result, suspicious lesions in the mouth can be detected early before the patient develops any symptoms. Early detection is the key factor to improving the outcome of any type of cancer.
Your hygienist will tell you about the relationship between diet and oral health, giving you advice on how to reduce things like dry mouth, bad breath, acid erosion, sensitivity, staining and cavities.
Patients who are prone to tooth decay may benefit from having remineralising treatments or cavity-deterring sealants applied to the teeth to prevent the development or progression of decay. Antibacterial gels can be applied under the gum to kill bacteria that cause gum disease. X-rays may be taken to monitor any problem areas or to check for hard plaque deposits beneath the gum that cannot be seen directly.
Smokers are more likely to have gum disease and lose more teeth than non-smokers. Nicotine also causes the teeth to stain yellow. If you want to stop smoking, your hygienist can guide you through the journey and provide advice on various ways to do this. Different methods of teeth whitening can also be explained and carried out by the hygienist.
Regular hygiene visits, combined with a good regime at home, will prevent tooth loss and help keep your mouth feeling healthy. A healthy mouth will improve your overall confidence, appearance and save you money!
At Moss Vale Dental, we have highly qualified and dedicated dental hygienists to help you keep your teeth for life!
