Hygienist Service
Gum Disease (Periodontal Disease) is a leading cause of tooth loss and it is estimated that between 50 – 90% of the population suffer with it at some level. We believe that early treatment is essential to prevent bad breath, tooth discoloration and loss of bone which supports teeth. At Northside Dental, our hygienist is available to help our patients maintain healthy gums and to treat more advanced established gum disease.
Most patients require cleaning appointments every 6 months to maintain gum health. If you suffer with advanced gum disease, a more comprehensive cleaning under local anaesthetic is required, called root planing. Treatment of advanced periodontal disease requires removal of tartar and plaque from below the gum-line. This requires local anaesthetic and is more complicated than a standard scale and polish from your dentist.
Our hygienist treatment follows these steps:
Assessment
On your first visit our hygienist will comprehensively assess your gums, taking care to note any ‘pockets’ around the gums, any bleeding that is occurring and may take x-rays if required to make a proper assessment.
Treatment
Once the assessment is complete the hygienist will either continue to scale and polish your teeth, or may decide that root planing (deep cleaning) under local anaesthetic is the best option for you.
Medications & Solutions
After the treatment your hygienist may decide to apply a medication or other medical solution to your gums to aid in repair or recovery, fight gum disease and decrease the level of sensitivity you are experiencing.
Education & Advice
Eileen is trained to provide you with an oral hygienist programme which will help prevent gum disease and keep your mouth clean and healthy.
Recall & Maintenance
Three months after your treatment, a recall appointment is required to determine if treatment has been successful or whether referral to a specialist periodontist is required. It is important to remember that the continuation of effective oral hygiene techniques at home is essential to the success of the treatment. Regular hygienist appointments, a minimum of every 6 months, are required to ensure that plaque and tartar does not build up again which may require further sessions of hygienist treatment.