Dental hygienists serve as a crucial part of any dental team and can either work alongside your dentist or be seen one on one, depending on the types of issues you’re dealing with. Here at Hockerill Dental, our in-house dental hygienist in Bishop’s Stortford plays a crucial role in the overall health of our patient’s smiles, offering both preventative care and hands-on treatment for things such as gum disease.
But if you’ve never seen a dental hygienist before, you may be wondering what they do, or what you can expect – so today, we’re shedding some light on this important part of our team.
What does a dental hygienist do?
Dental hygienists are experts in keeping your teeth and gums clean, and in many cases, they can help patients with this in a more effective way than your dentist! Here at Hockerill Dental, our hygienists work hard to both clean your teeth and also educate you on how to uphold this cleanliness at home, between appointments.
Things such as gum disease can be treated by a dental hygienist, and they can also provide advice and guidance on how best to keep plaque and build-up at bay so that gum disease is less of a risk to you in the future.
Dental hygienists will usually give your teeth a deep and thorough clean during your appointment using a procedure commonly known as a scale and polish. This removes any build-up of deposits that can’t be removed with regular brushing and helps to reduce the risk of things like gum disease, receding gums and tooth loss.
What is the role of a dental hygienist?
Although the general goal for any dental hygienist is to offer effective preventative care, their role usually consists of several different responsibilities, and they often work very closely with your named dentist to provide a full 360-degree approach to your dental care.
Common responsibilities include:
- Examining your teeth and gums for any signs of gum disease
- Deep cleaning (scale and polish) to remove any build-up of plaque and tartar
- Applying fluoride treatments to strengthen enamel and protect against damage from plaque
- Reviewing your oral health history
- Performing non-surgical gum treatments
- Liaising with your dentist about any and all concerns
- Educating patients and advising on the best ways to maintain a clean and healthy smile between appointments
Is it expensive to see a dental hygienist?
Like with any area of dental care, it can be an investment to get the proper and most thorough treatment, however, it’s worth finding a dentist who is clear about their fees so that budgeting is made easier.
Generally speaking, it shouldn’t break the bank to see and receive treatment from a dental hygienist in Bishop’s Stortford and here at Hockerill Dental, we pride ourselves on our competitive fees. We also offer a range of finance options or dental care plans, to help make your treatments as accessible and affordable as possible.
If you’re interested in seeing our dental hygienist but are unsure about whether you can afford it, please get in touch with our team as we’d love to help talk through your options.
Should I see a dental hygienist?
Whether you’ve been to see a dental hygienist before or not, the answer is definitely yes! Even those who are lucky enough to have a healthy smile can benefit from the treatments that a dental hygienist offers, and even the most thorough at-home hygiene routine can’t reach all areas where plaque builds up.
The main benefit of seeing a dental hygienist is that they can get to areas of plaque buildup that you can’t at home, and often patients report that they didn’t even realise how much of a build-up they had until they had seen their hygienist! You can always guarantee that you’ll walk away with a cleaner, brighter-looking smile after one of these types of appointments, helping you to feel healthier overall.
Want to know more?
If you’re thinking of seeing a dental hygienist or would like to find out more about what to expect, we’d love to help. Our friendly in-house hygienist team would be glad to speak with you before an appointment is made to answer any of your questions or concerns.
If this is what you’re looking for, then simply get in touch with us on 01279 652 400 or email us at [email protected] and someone will get back to you.