Dental Hygienist

Dental Hygienist Christchurch

Do I need to see a Dental hygienist? Rescue your teeth by saving your gums.

Periodontal (Gum) Care

Your gums are the foundation that support your teeth in their position and contribute to appearance of your teeth as well. Without healthy gums, the foundation is lost and the effects on your oral health can be problematic. Early diagnosis and treatment is the best chance of reversing the damage caused by gum disease and gingivitis.

Symptoms of Gingivitis and Periodontitis

Gingivitis is often the first detectable form of gum disease that your dental hygienist or dentist can pick up and the damage can usually be reversed. If left untreated it will develop into periodontitis. The damage caused by periodontitis cannot be reversed as there are permanent affects on the bone and gum height around the teeth, but we can stop it from progressing. This occurs when plaque and calculus (hardened plaque) is left to build up around the teeth and gums. The gums surrounding the teeth become inflamed in response to this irritation.

Because early detection allows us to treat gum disease before it has bigger ongoing effects, it is very important that you seek the advice of your dentist or dental hygienist if you have any of the following symptoms:

• Swollen, red or puffy gums
• Bleeding when brushing or flossing
• Bad breath or a sour taste in your mouth
• A noticeable elongation of the teeth or recession of the gums

There are also other factors that can contribute to gum disease:

• Uncontrolled diabetes increases the risk of developing gum disease
• Smoking increases the risk of gum disease and how fast it progresses

 

How can Gingivitis and/or Periodontitis be treated?

Gingivitis is reversible and is treated by cleaning off the calculus and plaque that has irritated the gums; our dental hygienists will clean this away as well as going over important oral hygiene advice tailored to your individual needs to help you reduce the risk of re-occurrence. The treatment results for patients with gingivitis are very good and can good gum health can then be maintained if you follow a good home care plan and continue with regular maintenance and dental cleaning appointments.

The treatment for periodontitis depends on its severity. Mild to moderate stage may be treated effectively by a professional dental cleaning involving scaling, root planning, and air polishing, and an active and thorough at home care program. Advanced stages or unresponsive localized areas may require other advanced treatments such as surgical intervention which is carried out by a gum specialist (Periodontist). Similar to gingivitis, periodontitis can reoccur if good homecare and regular dental hygiene cleaning appointments are not maintained.

The role of the Dental Hygienist

• To evaluate and assess gingival (gums) supporting structures and teeth
• To review medical history and x-ray results
• To perform oral screening for abnormal lesions
• To perform dental cleaning which includes scaling, root planing, and polishing of teeth
• Teeth whitening
• Guide patients through individualised oral hygiene instruction
• To advise on dietary influences particularly pertaining to dental disease
• To apply preventative agents to teeth and gums to prevent decay and gum disease

Regular Maintenance

It is imperative that patients with uncontrolled oral hygiene or extensive gum disease receive regular dental hygiene treatment to ensure that all deposits of plaque and tartar are cleaned away regularly; this will help with maintaining healthy gums and teeth. These dental cleaning maintenance appointments will be tailored to the individual needs of the patient, your dental hygienist or dentist will recommend which maintenance interval best suits your current needs.