19 Alpers Avenue
Newmarket
Auckland
NEW ZEALAND 1001

phone [+64] 09 524 5056
fax [+64] 09 524 5057

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- cosmetic dentistry
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Headaches and even migraines may be caused by disorders in the jaw joints. Find out more about jaw joint problems!

home : orthodontics : dental hygienists

WHAT IS A DENTAL HYGIENIST?
A dental hygienist is a registered health professional who has graduated from a school of dental hygiene in New Zealand or from an approved overseas school – like in Australia, Canada, or the USA.

The role of the hygienist is to maintain the health of your mouth and gums and, through dental health education, they help prevent oral diseases, provide treatments for diseases you already have [but only in the mouth], and assist you in keeping your mouth clean and sparkly forever

WHAT MAY HAPPEN AT MY HYGIENE APPOINTMENT?

Your gums, jaws, and teeth are checked and assessed.
Medical and dental history and xray results are reviewed and discussed.
Your mouth is checked for any unusual lesions or growths.
The teeth may be scaled and polished [see below].
You are instructed on home care of your teeth and mouth.
Dietary advice may be given – like don’t eat sweets or fat stuff.
Your teeth may be whitened.
Advice and treatment programmes on habits such as thumb sucking and tongue thrusting may be carried out.
Preventive therapies – fluoride treatments or fissure sealing – may be done.

HOME CARE?
This is very important to minimise the chance of gum disease, tooth decay, and bad breath. Keep your mouth clean at all times and – of course – don’t smoke!

ARE THERE OTHER HEALTH CONCERNS?
Where the mouth is unhealthy, there may be a higher risk of general illness. It is known that an unhealthy mouth can increase the chance of lung disease, heart disease, and is related to a higher risk of delivering premature and low weight babies.

SCALING AND POLISHING?
The hygienist removes all traces of plaque [which is soft mucky smelly food deposits] and calculus [that’s hard stuff on the teeth - a bit like stalactites – that is related to calcium in the saliva].

DOES THIS HURT?
Depends on whether your mouth is reasonably healthy or a fungating mess. The more neglected your mouth is, the greater likelihood of there being some tenderness as all plaque and calculas is removed.