The Benefits of Seeing the Dental Hygienist
In 2007 I would find myself constantly singing the lyrics to Kate Nash's song 'Foundations' in a below par London accent (actually Google has just informed me she is from Portsmouth, so this blog isn't off to the best of starts). At the time, I didn't think this song would have much impact on my life, but now I find myself singing it all day every day, not just because its a good song - my karaoke song in fact - but because people rarely think about the foundations of their teeth, their gums.
A wise woman once told me "dentistry isn't expensive, but dental neglect is". This saying should be on billboards. Everywhere. If my husband would let me, I would paint this on the side of our house because it is SO true. I see a wide variety of patients as I work in two very different dental practices but the majority of new patients that come through the doors will need a dental hygiene appointment in some shape or form. This could be a standard visit where we screen for Oral Cancer, check the gums for signs of Gum Disease or Gingivitis then proceed with removing any tartar, plaque build ups and staining with a polish at the end for good measure or it could be something a little more in depth.
If it has been a while since you have last seen the Dentist, for any number of reasons, its pretty likely that there will be some amount of treatment that is required to be carried out, particularly if you are attending in pain. Sometimes these treatments can cost thousands of pounds and be very time consuming often requiring multiple visits to the practice.
Fortunately or unfortunately, Gum Disease and gum problems don't tend to cause much pain or drama until they are at a more progressed stage. Unfortunately Gum Disease can go undiagnosed or go through periods of being active or dormant so for patients who are changing practices or going to a specific practice for something more cosmetic, to hear of any required gum treatments can sometimes come completely out of the blue. This is especially true if your primary concern is straightening your teeth or replacing older dental work that has been completed elsewhere.
Sometimes this Gum Disease treatment and factoring in seeing the Hygienist in general can be and become expensive, who are we kidding anything is expensive if you haven't budgeted for it, so it can be very tempting to defer this treatment or refuse the treatment altogether. This is of course each individuals choice and I have to respect this but I feel compelled to shed some light on the benefits of having gum treatment and or seeing the Dental Hygienist as part of your treatment plan.
You are reducing the risk of tooth loss by having Gum Disease treatment
One of the leading causes of tooth loss is Gum Disease. Teeth are anchored within bone in your jaw which help keep them functional, sturdy and looking great. Plaque will form about 30 minutes after eating or brushing your teeth. When bacteria that is present in plaque sits around teeth for long enough, abut 24 hours, this will trigger the process whereby soft tissues like gums and ligaments and eventually the bone that is holding the tooth in place are broken. This can cause the tooth to get wobbly and sometimes even an otherwise healthy tooth to fall out. This process does not happen overnight but sadly, I have seen many patients loose teeth to Gum Disease over the years. Sometimes this is inevitable and if you are attending with more advanced Gum Disease the writing could already be on the wall, but having Gum Disease treatment will help stop further bone around the teeth being lost and help you hold on to as many teeth for as long as possible.
You are improving your general health by treating Gum Disease & reversing Gingivitis
Now don't panic when you read this big long list, but Gum Disease is related into lots of other medical conditions and health concerns such as:-
Heart Disease
Alzheimer's
Stroke
Impaired Liver function
Erectile Dysfunction
Respiratory issues
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Osteoporosis
Fertility issues
Increased chance of having a baby with a low birthweight
So, not only will having Gum Disease treatment help hold on to your teeth but looking after your gums long term and treating any current issues will also help have a positive impact on your health generally which is just lovely.
Any planned restorative dental work will go more smoothly
Most of the time Gum Disease & Gingivitis will result in some level of bleeding at the gum line. Whenever a crown or bridge or filling close to the gum line is placed by the Dentist (or Dental Therapist in the case of fillings) we need this area to be as dry as possible. Sahara dry. If there is bleeding or an excess of fluid at the gum line (which can also happen in some cases of gum inflammation) this can compromise the seal we get between the filling material or crown and the natural tooth and if this seal is compromised the dental work may not last as long. By improving your oral hygiene, dental materials can be used more effectively in the site and the results will be better. Win win.
You'll keep your Orthodontist happy
Similar to restorative dental work, orthodontic treatment will also go more smoothly if you're on top of your oral hygiene. Braces are amazing and results generally are fantastic, regrettably though, braces are magnets for plaque. I have previously worked with Orthodontists who have swiftly removed braces if oral hygiene is not good enough they HATE seeing plaque at review appointments. So coming to see the Hygienist regularly before and during your orthodontic treatment will give you better results and potentially shorten your treatment time.
Implants are more successful if your gums are stable
I personally don't recommend that implants are placed until oral hygiene is gold standard with low levels of plaque and bleeding around the gums. So I check for this, regularly, and quite a lot of patients who are planning on getting implants need to step their routine up at home big time before moving on to the next stage of treatment. I would say that 9 out of 10 of these patients didn't realise they had a problem. I also recommend that implants are checked three monthly once they are placed to check for signs of problems and to make sure that each patient is comfortable with what they need to do to look after their implant(s) at home. Bleeding around implants is a sign of Implant Mucositis, this is a bit like Gingivitis which is seen in the mouth as bleeding at the gum line and is COMPLETELY reversible with a change in your oral hygiene routine at home. Its important however that dental implants are checked regularly for signs of this could lead to real problems with these implants down the line, possibly even implant failure in the future, so if you've got implants, your Hygienist is now your best friend.
Generally by seeing the Hygienist regularly you will need less dental work in the future
Healthy teeth & gums have less cavities & problems!!! Queue the mariachi band! So by getting a tailor made oral hygiene routine at home from your Dental Hygienist that you can follow, and coming for regular hygiene visits to remove any wee bits of plaque and tartar that you cant remove at home will save time & money and usually have you leaving your dental health check appointments with a thumbs up from the Dentist. Nice one.
Its not just about you
Did you know that you can pass Gum Disease to your partner, so by not treating it you could be that person...I treat a lot of couples who both have Gum Disease, so if you don't do it for you, do it for the one your love. Gum Disease is also one of the leading causes of bad breath, just saying.
So all in all investing time and money in by stabilising your gums is so beneficial in the long term. Some practices have membership options such as Practice Plan which factor in visits to see the Hygienist at least twice yearly which is a great option. At some practices gum treatments will be carried out by the Dentist if a Dental Hygienist isn't part of the dental team and you can now even see a Hygienist at any practice without being registered.
Don't neglect those gums! They're worth it ❤️
If you would like a Dental Hygiene appointment, you can visit me at Moira Cosmetic Dental or Bupa Dental Care Glengormley or you can follow me on Instagram @homegirlhygienist
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