DENTAL HYGIENE Wallington

Dental hygienists use preventive, educational and therapeutic methods to help prevent oral diseases whilst helping patients to achieve and maintain oral health. They will work with you to determine the best oral hygiene routine for your individual needs.

A great benefit is that you don’t need to be a patient of Wallington Smiles in order to regularly visit our hygienists. Simply ask your own private or NHS dentist to refer you to us via our website or over the phone, and we will be more than happy to see you.

At your first appointment, our hygienist will simply take some recordings; these are recorded from a pocket chart, for example, if there is a sign of extensive gum disease, and they provide a plaque and bleeding score. The latter highlights problem areas. Plaque is prevalent when the brushing technique of the patient is inadequate. This usually results in bleeding of the gums. Your hygienist will highlight areas that need more attention and educate you on how to improve your brushing technique.

Gum disease is the largest factor of tooth loss in adult life. The milder form of gum disease is called Gingivitis. Your gums will be red and swollen and may bleed easily when you brush your teeth (this is often masked by smoking). Around 50% of all pregnant women experience dental problems at some point during their pregnancy. The most common is Gingivitis. Changing hormone levels can make your gums more susceptible to plaque attack. At Wallington Smiles, we generally recommend routine visits every 6 months for a thorough examination and clean.