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The importance of the dental hygienist

Brushing your teeth is fundamentally important, however tooth brushing alone will not remove the calculus (also called tartar or dental plaque) which builds up over time. Calculus must be removed to lower your risk of toothaches, cavities, periodontal disease (even the loss of all your teeth). Effective removal of calculus reduces your chances of needing root canals, tooth extractions, dental bridges, crowns, implants and more.

While you are responsible for day-to-day dental maintenance, dental hygienists (along with general dentists, family dentists and cosmetic dentists) play an integral role in preventative oral care. Your at-home tooth cleaning regime must be supplemented with professional preventative dental care.

Getting to the Root of Dental Hygiene

Over time, calculus builds up on the teeth. If calculus forms below the gum line, bacteria can invade and create a host of other dental problems. The surfaces and areas between the teeth and under the gum line must be maintained and treated on a regular basis in order to ensure proper dental hygiene.

These areas are impossible for you to examine yourself:

Dental hygienists are responsible for performing professional tooth cleaning, scraping hardened plaque (tartar), removing calculus deposits, taking X-rays, identifying changes in the bite (occlusion), investigating components that relate to the bone and setting up the nitrous oxide (laughing gas) which is used, when necessary, to relax people requiring more invasive treatment.

Your Gentle Dental Care dentist or hygienist, then works with you hygienist by further examining the teeth, mouth and gums to provide any necessary treatment for tooth decay or gum disease. Regular dental visits are critical at any age for the maintenance of dental hygiene.

We recommend you visit Gentle Dental Care's efficient team of hygienists/dentists at least twice a year.

Contact Gentle Dental Care for more information, or to arrange a consultation.