Dental Hygienist
What is gum disease? Gum disease is inflammation of the gum caused by plaque and calculus. The effect of this inflammation, over a period of time, is to cause the gums to recede. Recession occurs not only on the outside but also invisibly on the inside where the gum meets the tooth. In this way recession can cause pockets to develop between the teeth and gums. Once there are pockets, plaque accumulates inside them and accelerates the disease process. That's why gum disease is more difficult to treat once it has become established - this is caused periodontitis.
What can a dental hygienist do for me? A hygienist's main duty is to prevent and treat gum disease with scaling, polishing and root planning (which may be under local anaesthetic) to remove the calculus and plaque. The hygienist will demonstrate correct flossing and brushing techniques as well as inter-dental cleaning. Research has shown that patients who regularly visit the hygienist, suffer from less dental problems in the long term.
How do I prevent gum disease?
There are two main aspects of prevention - home care and hygienist treatment:
A good oral hygiene routine at home is the most important part of prevention, but your needs differ as time passes and the mouth changes. That's why you'll need new oral care techniques during different phases of life. The hygienist will monitor your oral health and provide the most appropriate general advice and personal guidance.
The second aspect of prevention is scaling, this is carried out to remove any build-up of calculus both above and below the gum line. Calculus can't be removed with brushing and the suitably trained member of the dental team to perform scaling is the hygienist. After the scaling it is usual to have a polish, which will leave your teeth feeling fresh and clean.
Remember – if you have a problem with a tooth, you may loose it, if you have a problem with your gums, you might loose all your teeth!!