Dental Hygienist

Visiting the hygienist regularly helps to ensure that your oral hygiene routine is efficient at removing plaque and keeping your teeth and gums healthy. At Hampshire Dentists, Southampton, we offer this service for your peace of mind.

These are usually a 30 minute appointment to remove any tartar build up from around the teeth above and below gum level, flushing out bacteria and harmful toxins which damage the gums and bone and have implications elsewhere in the body. Many patients report how clean and fresh their mouths feel afterwards.

A 30 minute Hygiene Treatment at Hampshire Dentists start from £69.50! Maybe consider some of the below.

Why do I need a dental hygiene appointment?

Everyone, even the dentist needs to see a dental hygienist routinely.

Our dental hygienists are specially trained to help you head off dental problems before they start. This is through a thorough assessment of how you care for your mouth as well as cleaning procedures. They will work with you to optimize your home care regime that keeps your dental health in tip-top condition.

All dental hygienists are licensed with the General Dental Council [GDC], and have years of their own professional training under their belt, so you are in competent and caring hands. 

What are the benefits of a dental hygienist?

Your dental hygienist plays potentially the most important role in the dental practice, providing you with vital preventative care and helping you stay healthy. You will see them to help focus on preventing dental diseases, hopefully reducing the need for intervention and treatment with the rest of the dental team.

The dental hygienist is also partly an educator, helping you learn more about your mouth and dental health, how to achieve your dental goals, and how to care for your mouth and its unique issues between visits to the practice. They can also advise you on the basics of a lifestyle that supports good dental health.

 While the list of preventative benefits of a dental hygienist is long, here are some of their main duties:

• Assessment of current Home care regime
• Education/refinement of what you can do (skills/tools/techniques you can use) to control damaging dental plaque (removing it from every surface of every tooth, every day so you can become more dentally fit.
• Removal of hard plaque by deep cleaning, scaling and polishing teeth
• Applying topical fluoride and sealing the surface of the tooth
• Periodontal therapies
• Applying antimicrobial and prophylactic treatments.
• Some emergency care
• Patient education

What is Guided Biofilm Therapy?

Guided Biofilm Therapy (GBT) is a new Swiss innovation that has allowed Dental Hygienists to transform the patient experience by exchanging traditional methods of Hygiene for a revolutionary system that offers a pain-free oral healthcare.

Our teeth are covered in a sticky and colourless film made up of bacteria, known as biofilm. If this biofilm is not removed it can build up around the area between the teeth and the gums, resulting in gum disease.

The bacteria in biofilm can also break down enamel when it meets sugary foods and drinks ultimately causing tooth decay.

GBT uses AirFlow technology to remove bacteria (biofilm) in the mouth that contribute to tooth decay and gum disease. 

GBT is highly effective, minimally invasive and gentle, meaning that people with gum disease, braces, crowns, bridges, veneers and implants are eligible for treatment.

These procedures are so gentle they can be used on natural teeth, restorations, orthodontic braces, implants, the tongue and gums.

How does Guided Biofilm Therapy Work?

The mouth is checked to identify any dental decay or gum disease. This allows the hygienist to assess your treatment needs.

Teeth are disclosed with a dye that makes biofilm visible. You are then shown any problem areas, which will help to personalise your oral hygiene routine. The colour will also guide the biofilm removal.

Depending on your needs, a combination of up to three cleaning systems is used to gently remove biofilm, staining and light deposits. These procedures are so gentle they can be used on natural teeth, restorations, orthodontic braces, implants, the tongue and gums.

The final check ensures all biofilm and deposits have been removed and screens one last time for any decay. Teeth are then protected with a fluoride seal.

Based on your oral hygiene and a risk assessment, your next appointment will be scheduled. This is usually between 3 to 6 months

Are there any other benefits?

Due to the nature of the powder, Airflow and Perioflow are also excellent at stain removal. Most patients do not require their teeth to be polished following the use of this system, and most report their teeth feeling smoother and remaining smoother for longer.

Here’s what one of our lovely patients has said about having GBT airflow….

“I’ve just had my hygiene visit with the GBT airflow, it was amazing, I am the worst person for pain and there was none, literally nothing.  It actually felt and tasted nice.  Thanks Mel and Miranda …. You are my new favourite people”

How will dental hygiene help me?

Gum health

Gum disease afflicts up to 50% of the population.

While gingivitis- begins when the bacteria in plaque (the sticky, colour-less film that constantly forms on your teeth) causes the gums to become inflamed/swollen. Early gingivitis is reversible. However, later gum disease is not. This is why nipping it early is so important. 

Bad breath

Caused usually by bacteria in cases of persistent halitosis, or bad breath. These bacteria are often hiding under the gum line where even the most diligent of toothbrushes cannot reach. Your dental hygienist, however, has all the tools needed to help flush them out improving gum health and hence reducing bad breath.

Improve your confidence

Never underestimate a clean and healthy smile. Studies show improvements in emotional wellbeing and improve confidence. Stained discoloured teeth or paranoia about bad breath can hugely affect confidence and hold us back.

Your dental hygienist is a critical part of helping you achieve that healthy goal.

Reduced Dental procedures

These dental ninjas (hygienist) can often pick up on problems early on and advise on areas, which need improved attention at home to prevent and often reverse dental diseases in the early stages reducing the potential need for intervention treatments with the dentist reducing the risk of losing a tooth/teeth.