Dental hygiene
Sandy, Bedfordshire
A dental hygiene appointment is more than just a cleaning – it’s an essential part of maintaining your oral health. At Aura Dental, our hygiene services go beyond the basics to ensure your teeth and gums stay healthy, fresh, and free of harmful plaque and tartar buildup.
What is a dental hygiene appointment?
A dental hygiene appointment focuses on professionally cleaning your teeth and gums to remove plaque, tartar, and stains that brushing and flossing can’t tackle.
It’s also an opportunity to learn how to care for your teeth more effectively at home and protect your smile from gum disease, cavities, and other oral health issues.
Benefits of a dental hygiene appointment
Deep cleaning
Hygienists use specialised tools to remove hardened tartar and plaque, particularly in areas you can’t reach with a toothbrush.
Gum disease prevention
Regular hygiene appointments reduce the risk of gum disease, which can lead to gum recession, tooth loss, and other health problems if left untreated.
A brighter smile
Hygienists can polish away surface stains, leaving your teeth feeling smooth and looking naturally brighter.
Fresher breath
By removing bacteria and plaque buildup, hygiene visits can help eliminate persistent bad breath.
What is the dental hygiene process?
Examination & assessment
Your hygienist will begin by assessing your teeth and gums, checking for signs of plaque buildup, tartar, gum disease, or other concerns.
Scaling & polishing
Using specialised tools, plaque and tartar are gently removed from your teeth, especially in hard-to-reach areas. After scaling, your teeth are polished to remove surface stains and leave your smile smooth and shiny.
Fluoride treatment (if needed)
Depending on your oral health, a fluoride application may be recommended to strengthen your teeth and protect against cavities.
Advice
Your hygienist will discuss your oral care routine, offering tips tailored to your needs, from brushing techniques to flossing tips or recommendations for specific products.
Dental hygiene vs. dental check-ups
Both dental hygiene appointments and check-ups play an important role in keeping your smile healthy, but they focus on different aspects of care:
A dental hygienist removes plaque and tartar, polishes teeth, applies fluoride treatments, and offers advice on maintaining oral hygiene at home.
No, hygienists do not perform fillings. This is the role of a dentist. Hygienists focus on prevention and cleaning.
Hygienists can remove surface stains and polish teeth, making them look brighter, but professional whitening treatments are typically carried out by a dentist.
Dentists can diagnose and treat oral health issues, perform procedures like fillings, crowns, orthodontic treatments, dental implants and extractions, and create treatment plans. Hygienists focus on preventative care and oral hygiene.
Yes, you can book an appointment with a hygienist without seeing a dentist for a check-up, making it a great way to keep your teeth clean and healthy between dental visits. However, if it’s your first time at a practice, you’ll typically need to see a dentist for a check-up first to assess your overall oral health before proceeding with hygiene treatments.
