Dental Hygiene

Hygienists are trained dental professionals who focus on keeping the teeth and gums healthy and clean. They are the first line of defence in the battle against tooth decay and gum disease and are able to spot the signs of both in their earliest stages.

This helps prevent decay and disease from developing and, therefore, also helps to prevent the need for more interventionist treatments, such as fillings, crowns, or other restorative treatments.

At an appointment with one of our trained hygienists, they will first carry out a full examination of your teeth and gums before a thorough cleaning of the whole mouth. During the cleaning, they will be able to remove any build-up, as well as any surface staining that might be present.

This is often done through a ‘scale and polish’ technique. However, at NG Smiles, we also offer ultra-gentle and effective Airflow® Tooth Polishing treatment. Your hygienist will also help develop an at-home routine and treatment plan based on your unique needs, providing advice on brushing techniques, changes to your usual oral health routine, and lifestyle and dietary advice.

Airflow® Tooth Polishing provides a deep, thoroughly clean, removing any plaque, tartar, and bacteria build-up and surface staining gently and effectively. Using a combination of a controlled jet of air, warm water, and sodium bicarbonate, this treatment can be used on sensitive patients, as well as patients with restorations, veneers, and fixed orthodontic braces.

The patient’s teeth are left looking brighter and more polished, while the mouth feels super clean and the breath fresh. Because of its gentle properties, we recommend this treatment for most of our patients as it improves the patient experience overall while helping to keep tooth decay and gum disease at bay.

Depending on whether this is the patient’s first appointment, as well as on their unique needs, most hygiene appointments last 30 minutes to an hour.

We recommend yearly visits at minimum, with twice-yearly visits providing optimum results. Patients with certain restorations or who are recovering from gum disease may need more frequent visits.