Dental Hygienist - Frequently Asked Questions and Answers

What is a Dental Hygienist?

A Dental Hygienist is specially trained in the prevention and treatment of gum (periodontal) disease, which is the main cause of adult tooth loss and to give advice on all aspects of oral health.

How long are the appointments?

The appointments are between 20 minutes and an hour long. This includes wiping down the surgery, sterilisation of instruments and writing up notes.

What happens in a Dental Hygienist appointment?

The Dental Hygienist will:

• Check the patient’s medical history and ask the patient if they have any dental problems.
• Discuss oral health, for example the treatment and prevention of gum (periodontal) disease, receding gums, tooth wear.
• Give oral hygiene advice, for example tooth brushing technique.
• Check the appearance of the gums, see if there is any plaque or bleeding.
• Remove any hard deposits (calculus) and stain by scaling the teeth.
• Polish the teeth.

Will it hurt?

A. Scaling and polishing is usually pain free. If you do have any discomfort the hygienist can use anaesthetic creams or solutions.

Why doesn’t the dentist do this work?

A Dental Hygienist has been specially trained to carry out this work and can spend longer with you.