What is a dental hygienist?

A dental hygienist has an important role to play in preventative dentistry and oral health. Our hygienist will clean your teeth by removing any excess plaque and tartar with a procedure known as a scale and polish.

Besides providing scale and polish treatments, our practice hygienist will also assess your current oral hygiene regime and will advise and teach you how to clean your teeth and gums effectively. Our hygienist works closely with the dentists at the practice and will help you to maintain a healthy mouth with effective regular brushing, daily flossing or the use of interdental brushes to clean in between the teeth.

It is important to remember that good oral hygiene reduces the likelihood of tooth decay and gum disease. Poor oral hygiene can impact negatively on your overall wellbeing.

Who is the practice hygienist?

Our hygienist Alice, started her career at The Queens Dental Practice as a dental nurse and practice manager when the practice first opened in 2000. In 2005 Alice began her dental hygiene and therapy training at the renowned Eastman Dental Hospital and returned to the practice in 2008 having qualified.

Alice is passionate about her work as a dental hygienist and is always looking for ways to improve her skills and service. Alice appreciates that being a hygienist is not just about scaling and polishing; it is much more than that. It’s showing somebody the best way to care for their mouth, motivating them to sometimes change habits of a lifetime, and helping them to realise that the reward is a healthy mouth for life that feels good and often generates more confidence.

When should I see a dental hygienist?

We recommend seeing our hygienist regularly; most of our patients will see the hygienist every 6 months. Patients who suffer from gum disease may see the hygienist more regularly every 3-4 months. You should see a hygienist when staining and hardened tartar develops on the teeth and if the gums start to bleed when brushing and flossing. Our dentists and hygienist will work with you to develop a maintenance programme that is tailored to your individual needs. We provide direct access to our hygienist which means you can see our hygienist without having to see one of our dentists first.

Is there a treatment for more advanced gum disease?

If you experience more advanced gum disease, then you may benefit from the advanced skills and expertise of  Priya Bahal, our dentist with a special interest in periodontology and gum disease management.

Once your periodontal disease has been assessed and stabilised, Priya and Alice will work together with you to keep your gum disease under control with a maintenance programme designed specifically for you.