Maintaining a Happy, Healthy Mouth and Smile
Healthy gums are fundamental to all of the procedures we provide. They form a solid foundation upon which we can build healthy, happy, long lasting smiles.
Prevention is better than cure and we recommend all our adult patients to see a hygienist regularly, to have the health of their gums checked and any remedial treatment carried out such as a scale and polish.
The frequency of these appointments will be advised by your dentist, but is usually every three or six months.
We really encourage parents to bring their children in to visit a hygienist, it’s informative and fun! Ask any member of staff for details.
Brighten up your smile today with Air Polishing
Do you have stained or discoloured teeth? If so, Air Polishing could be ideal for you.
Teeth can become stained by drinking tea, coffee or red wine amongst other things. Air Polishing allows us to blast off that surface staining quickly and effectively. Air Polishing can be booked as a separate treatment, or can be part of your regular dental hygiene programme.
An appointment with one of our specially trained dental hygienists will help you get that winning smile. Book an appointment and you could benefit from the following:
- Whiter teeth.
- No more bleeding gums.
- Reduced gum recession.
- Stop sensitivity.
- Stop bad breath.
- Dietary advice.
- Removal of plaque between teeth.
- Tailored advice on oral products and treatments.
- Reduced dental bills – prevention, rather than cure.
It is in the best interest of the patient to visit a hygienist to maintain their oral health for as long as possible.
Initial Gum Disease Assessment
As part of your dental health checks, our hygienists will thoroughly examine your mouth for signs of gum infection and will also carry out a risk assessment to determine how prone you are to gum disease.
No “cleaning” will take place at this first appointment, but treatment will be initiated by lowering the bacterial levels and introducing oxygen into the gum area, this helps to prepare the gum tissue prior to any treatment therapies.
Unfortunately, the presence of this disease can be genetic – which is why some of our patients can undergo genetic testing, a very simple test that is sent to the laboratory. Having this information allows us to plan the appropriate bespoke care for you.
There are three possible outcomes:
- Healthy – no sign of gum disease
- Gingivitis – mild gum disease
- Periodontal disease – established/advanced gum disease
We have different therapies to treat each type of gum disease and we have great successes with each one with our patients.
Oral Cancer Screening
Oral cancer is generally a painless disease. If caught early, the survival rates are much higher than if it is detected later. All our hygienists, dental therapists and dentists are trained in oral cancer screening, and we absolutely believe in providing this service at every dental health review.
We are able to use a technology called Velscope, which lets us see deeper into the skin. It allows us to identify lesions at a very early stage. Any abnormalities are then image captured so that a suspect lesion can be monitored, or the images can be sent to an oral surgeon if necessary.
Periodontal (Gum and Supporting Bone) Screening
Signs of periodontal disease include bleeding of the gums or pocketing around teeth. This allows bacteria to enter the bloodstream and can damage the heart and cardiac vessels. It has also been linked to diabetes and low birth-weight.
England has a high rate of cardiac disease compared to other European countries; it is, therefore, important that anyone who may be at risk of cardiac disease is screened for gum disease.
Teeth Screening
Our teeth screenings include regular x-rays. This allows us to accurately view the mouth from all angles. We can also use tools such as a laser light to detect hidden areas of tooth decay. All of our subsequent prevention programs are tailored for the individual.
