Hygiene & Scaling Appointment
Our surgery offers a Hygiene Therapist who is specifically trained in cleaning teeth and gums, ensuring you get a thorough and quality clean.
In addition to daily brushing and flossing, visiting a dentist every six months for a regular examination and clean is important for maintaining good oral health and hygiene, and for early detection of any dental problems.
A “scale and clean” involves the removal of tartar (calculus) from the tooth surfaces by special dental instruments. Plaque, a soft, sticky film containing bacteria which builds up on teeth, can be removed by normal brushing. However, if plaque is not removed, it hardens to become tartar, and if left untreated, it will damage healthy teeth and gums, and can cause tooth decay, gum disease, supporting bone loss leading ultimately to tooth loss.
Following the Comprehensive Examination, a separate one hour Hygiene & Scaling Appointment will be conducted by a specialised Hygiene Therapist and includes:
- Removal of tartar and disease above and below the gum line
- Polishing of the tooth surfaces
- Stain removal where possible
- Personalised dental hygiene instructions to maintain a healthy smile for life including dietary impact on dental health
- Tooth Strengthening with Fluoride and natural ions
The item numbers for this session depend on your condition, however common items are:- 114 - Calculus Removal (cleaning, scaling of teeth)
- 121 - Topical Remineralising (application of fluoride)
- 222 - Root Planing & Curettage – (cleaning below the gum line)
- Possibly 281 if a subsequent appointment is required
We will always discuss any additional elements with you on the day.
In most cases, the foundation of the mouth (gums, bones and ligaments around the teeth) are treated first before repairing the teeth that they support.
