Many of us realize the importance of taking care of our teeth and why we must visit our dentist regularly if we want to make sure that we treat and keep our teeth looking good and lasting into old age. However, some do not quite understand the importance of a dental hygienist?
Dentists are definitely very busy performing treatments such as fillings, crowns and extractions that we absolutely need at some point in our lives. Their time is spent addressing problems we have already got, rather than preventing new ones. The extras that help us keep our smile and oral health good can be left on or ignored without additional care and attention to our teeth and gums.
This is where the role of the dental hygienist is essential and something we should all consider as part of the same routine and commitment we show to visiting the dentist. Simply put, the hygienist’s role is to take the numerous preventive steps our dentists do not have time to do and guide and support us to maintain the best oral hygiene routine.
The role of the dental nurse
A dental hygienist plays a specialist role in supporting you to maintain your oral hygiene, and they’re a very important part of preventing tooth loss. Even when you visit the dentist regularly, they check to see if you need fillings or have significant tooth or gum disease. However, it is usually too late to reverse the problem by then, and the only plan of action is for the dentist to perform an expensive repair job.
Regular visits to a dental hygienist can help stop many problems before requiring dentist intervention, as they provide important proactive care, treatment, and advice to help you maintain oral health. This can help stop gum disease and the associated pain and possibly the inevitable tooth loss.
Dental surgery like Tooth Portobello, offers dental health services as the first step in preventive oral hygiene care. As research has found, visits to the dental hygienist can even benefit your health more broadly. With poor oral hygiene not only being the main reason behind many health problems such as Endocarditis through bacteria entering the bloodstream or cardiovascular relationship between plaque buildup, gum disease and heart disease, there are also many associations of existing conditions such as diabetes messing with good oral health. Hence, regular visits to a health professional can really be a lifesaver.
What services will the dental hygienist offer?
Scaling and polishing to treat gingivitis and reduce bleeding gums, deep cleanings to treat advanced periodontal gum disease, help with bad breath and dietary advice to help adapt your lifestyle to the needs of your teeth.
They can even provide many screening services, such as identifying the onset of oral cancer and aesthetic treatments such as teeth whitening. They also offer fluoride treatment applications and stain removal. They will let you know when further dental work is required. As we mentioned above, they can even draw attention to other health problems you may be facing or help you reduce problems caused by existing medical conditions.
The benefits of visiting the dentist
When you start visiting your dentist regularly, which is generally recommended every 4-6 months, you’ll have more control over your oral hygiene. You will create a healthier and more balanced mouth, which will help you avoid visits to the dentist for procedures such as fillings and extractions.
Dental hygienists play a very important role in your ongoing oral care, helping you avoid more invasive procedures that aren’t only uncomfortable but also inconvenient and expensive, making dentists better prepared when you need further support.
