Many patients will routinely go to their dentists for a 6 monthly check-up, but not all patients are fully committed to seeing a hygienist as regularly. At FACEMED in Billericay we encourage all our dental patients to take advantage of an appointment with one of our hygienist therapists so they can experience the best we have to offer in dental healthcare and to prevent any oral problems before they become an issue.
What’s The Difference Between A Dentist And A Hygienist?
Your dentist is there to check, diagnose and treat your mouth area and teeth. The dentist will have a full picture of each of their patient’s dental health and their records. Your dentist will be in a position to advise patients if they need more specialised treatment, for example from an orthodontist, hygienist or an implantologist.
The hygienist is specially trained in oral health, dental hygiene and dental therapy. They work to make sure that you have optimum oral health and hygiene preventing any future problems before they arise.
What Does A Dental Hygienist Do?
The hygienist will be able to deep clean your gums and teeth. They will also offer patients education on the best way to keep their teeth and gums healthy. The hygienist has access to special professional tools that they can use to scale and polish your teeth removing plaque, tartar and calculus.
At FACEMED in Essex we put your oral health at the forefront of everything we do. As a result we routinely invest in the latest technology so that we can provide our patients with cutting edge treatments that will improve their oral healthcare. That is why we have invested in Airflow therapy.
What Is Airflow Therapy?
Airflow therapy is a treatment that allows your hygienist to remove plaque, stains and discolouration in a quicker and more effective way than by using traditional dental tools. Airflow therapy uses a combination of water, compressed air and fine powder particles that are administered to the teeth and gums via a high pressure jet.
Airflow therapy allows your hygienist to get into hard to reach places in the mouth to remove dental plaque. It is more comfortable than using traditional tools and leaves you with a brighter, more healthy looking smile.
What Are the Benefits Of Going To A Hygienist?
Many people assume that seeing the dentist is enough, but unfortunately that is not the case. A hygienist works to prevent oral health problems before they become a problem. One of the most common problems we see in dentistry is gum disease. Left unchecked gum disease can lead to bad breath, gum shrinkage and teeth that are either loose or fall out.
Having regular hygienist appointments will mean any concerns can be managed and solved before you get to the stage whereby you need costly dental treatment to rectify the problem.
How Often Should I Visit The Hygienist?
This will depend on the current health of your teeth and gums. Your hygienist will make a thorough assessment of your oral health and let you know how often you should have an appointment. It may be that you need to visit every 6 months, or if you have optimum oral health your hygienist may only need to see you on a yearly basis.
If you haven’t visited a hygienist before we would advise you to make an appointment or your dentist will tell you if you need to make one. For example, if your dentist identifies that you have signs of gum disease they will advise you to see the hygienist to get this issue under control.
