It is important that you visit our hygienist Richmond at least once every six months or more often if recommended by the dentist, to ensure that your teeth are clean and that your mouth is free of any signs of infection, decay or disease.
The main role of our hygienist Richmond is to make sure that your teeth and gums are free of plaque and tartar. Our hygienist Richmond uses a scale and polish technique to remove plaque and tartar that build up on your teeth, either as a result of poor oral hygiene or because they get stuck and build up in those hard-to-reach areas. Our hygienist has specialist tools which they use to manually remove plaque and tartar as well as ultrasonic tools to break down any hardened deposits. In doing so they clean your teeth and prevent plaque and tartar from causing cavities and tooth decay as well as gum disease.
Gingivitis
Our hygienist will carry out a thorough examination of your gums to look for any signs of gingivitis or even periodontitis. Gingivitis is an infection of the gum tissue whilst periodontitis is an infection of the supporting structures of the teeth. Both of these can cause a range of unpleasant symptoms and periodontal disease can result in missing teeth and further systemic health complications. If detected early on, gingivitis can be treated with good dental hygiene, a scale and polish or when necessary a deep clean where plaque and tartar is removed from below the gum line to remove the infection and allow your gums to heal. You may need a course of antibiotics to help the recovery process.
Periodontitis
If you are suffering from periodontitis then our hygienist will be able to look after your teeth and gums and prevent the infection from getting worse although it may not be treated completely. Maintaining good dental hygiene and preventing further plaque and tartar from damaging your teeth and gums can help prevent tooth loss and reduce the symptoms that are associated with periodontitis, for example bad breath, bleeding gums and sensitivity. You will also need antibiotics to control the infection which can spread to your heart and other parts of your body.
Bone health
As well as looking after your gums our hygienist is also concerned with the health of your jawbone. They will carry out annual or six monthly X-rays to make sure that your jawbone is healthy. If there are any signs of bone decay or bone loss then this will also need to be addressed to prevent missing teeth and other complications. We will teach you how to look after your teeth and gums more effectively, because good dental hygiene plays an important part in preventing bone loss. We will also advise that you enjoy a healthier lifestyle, for example avoid smoking, enjoy a healthy diet, control your sugar intake, increase your calcium intake and increase vitamin D intake. As always we recommend that you visit our dentist and hygienist more often if you are suffering from dental health complications, and at least once every six months if you have healthy teeth and gums. Speak to us at Sheen Dental today to find out more.