Dental Hygiene at The Elms Dental Practice In Reading
Oral hygiene and gum disease treatment and education
Gum Disease And Your Oral Health
Here at The Elms Dental Practice we firmly believe in helping patients with the improvement and maintenance of their smile health. For that reason, we want you to understand the potential risks involved in improper oral hygiene maintenance.
Why Is It Important To Maintain Healthy Gums?
Your gums support your teeth, so if they aren't looked after, your smile simply won't stay in good health. Unhealthy gums with gum disease can bleed, be puffy, painful, sensitive and infected, eventually leading to the loss of the teeth they support.
Gum Disease - What Does It Mean?
Gum disease is the result of chronic plaque and tartar build-up which is filled with bacteria. Plaque naturally builds up every day as you eat and drink, and is removed when you brush. If it isn't removed, it turns hard and is called tartar. If tartar and plaque is not removed, it starts to damage the teeth and gums. The bacteria within the plaque causes irritation of the gums called gingivitis.
Gingivitis & Periodontitis
Gingivitis is early stage gum disease and is characterised most commonly by gums that bleed when you brush. Gums may also be inflamed with swelling and redness. At this stage the gum disease is considered mild and your teeth should not be at risk of falling out. Excellent daily oral hygiene habits along with hygienist treatments and guidance can help treat the disease and hopefully reverse it completely.
If the disease is not treated at this stage it advances to periodontitis which is where inflammation occurs and the bone and tissues holding the teeth begin to break down. Eventually the teeth fall out or require extraction.
How We Recognise Gum Disease:
Is Gum Disease Treatable?
In the early stages, gum disease is very treatable. We do this by taking away or reducing the bacterial deposits associated with the disease. Our qualified hygienists provide ‘deep cleans’ to remove the plaque and tartar. Most importantly, they will also provide advice on day to day oral hygiene to help you remove the plaque yourself between check-ups.
Whenever gum disease is recognised early, we can provide the treatment necessary to address the problems causing it, and to help you prevent a recurrence of the issue in future.
What Does A Dental Hygienist Do?
At our clinic we are dedicated to hygiene therapy and preventative services so that you feel equipped to maintain excellent oral health day to day. We have a comprehensive range of oral hygiene services to offer, as well as detailed oral health education and tips so that you can maintain a healthy smile between appointments with us. Our dedicated hygiene team also provide you with services including stain removal and gum cleaning. Your hygienist will also work in conjunction with the dentist as part of a comprehensive treatment plan where required:
Our hygienist offers services such as:
Should I See A Dental Hygienist As Regularly As I See The Dentist?
We recommend that you do see a dental hygienist for a standard 30 minute appointment as regularly as you see the dentist, but in some cases you may need to see the hygienist more regularly. If you have active diabetes or are receiving gum disease treatment you might need to come in more regularly.
What Does Gum Surgery Involve?
Gum surgery is performed by our in-house periodontist when gum disease isn't responding to treatment from the dentist or hygienist. It may also be needed if the condition is too advanced to warrant treatments designed for milder cases.
What Does Receding Gum Treatment Involve?
If you are feeling self-conscious about your gum recession after active gum disease has been managed and treated, we can offer soft tissue grafts to correct the problem. This kind of surgery can also help with tooth sensitivity caused by receding gums. This kind of treatment is completed by our in-house periodontist.
Is Airflow Stain Removal Something Offered By Your Clinic?
We are proud to offer Airflow treatment to help you achieve a brighter smile. The system uses tiny powder crystals, water jets and air jets to effectively remove stains on the teeth, thus brightening how the smile appears.
This particular treatment is excellent at getting into the tiny cracks and crevices that often hold material causing stains. We recommend Airflow Stain Removal as a special occasion treatment and as part of general smile maintenance.
Can I See The Hygienist Without A Referral From The Dentist?
In most cases the dentist will refer you to a hygienist for certain types of treatment but sometimes you can book an appointment without the need for a referral.
Please call our friendly reception team on 0118 942 7951 to discuss your needs and to ensure we book the correct appointment for you.
Booking a dental hygiene appointment
The dental hygiene service is an important cornerstone at our practice to help improve and maintain oral health. For this reason we want our patients to have access to the hygienist at their convenience.
So to minimise patients failing to attend their hygienist appointment and to improve access for patients to the service, a pre payment of £66.00 is required to secure your booking with us, this payment can be made over the phone or in person. Please be advised that payment must be made at least 48 hours prior to your appointment, failure to do so may result in a loss of your appointment and could affect future bookings with us.
At The Elms Dental Practice we take pride in providing you with high quality dental care in a friendly and relaxed environment.
Reading RG30 6AD
