Brighten up your life
Most people only really visit their dental hygienist in Richmond when they become aware of a problem that they have with their teeth. However, few are aware of how much a visit to the hygienist chair can brighten their smile, and indeed their self-confidence. Whilst in-practice and at-home whitening kits have become massively popular in the last few years, patients are still somewhat unaware that they can achieve similar results to teeth whitening by visiting their hygienist for a scale and polish service.
What is a scale and polish?
Unlike cosmetic whitening, which purely aims to make a patient’s teeth visibly whiter through the application of a gel which contains peroxide, a scale and polish is not a cosmetic treatment. However it can leave your mouth and smile looking visibly fresher and brighter, by the removal of all plaque and tartar build-ups and any stains, discolouration or marks to your enamel. This is carried out by an expert hygienist who has trained specifically within the field of dental hygiene. The fundamentals of the process aim to leave the patient’s teeth in the most healthy condition they can be in. This often results in their smile being visibly brighter, as any excess plaque or tartar have been removed through the use of specially designed dental tools. These allow hygienists to get to the more difficult to reach areas, which are often missed when brushing. Additionally to the visible benefits of a scale and polish, it also massively reduces the risk of periodontal disease ( gum disease) or gingivitis.
How does a scale and polish work?
The process of undertaking a scale and polish typically begins with the hygenist making a preliminary examination of the insides of your mouth. This is to enable them to evaluate the extent of work that is necessary, and to see whether any signs of gingivitis or periodontal disease can be identified. Providing that the patient is fit and healthy enough to continue, the hygienist will then use an ultrasound scraper to remove any build-ups of bacteria, plaque or tartar from the front and backs of the patient’s teeth. They will also use specially designed dental hand-tools to reach more difficult places. This is known as the ‘scrape’ section of the procedure. Next follows the ‘polish’ which is when the surface area of the patient’s teeth are polished using specialised tools, and this results in their teeth looking far brighter and healthier. This section of the procedure also removed any minor marks or imperfections on the surface of the patient’s enamel, which helps greatly reduce the risk of further build-ups.
Healthy is beautiful
After the procedure has been completed, the hygienist may also inform patients of a number of helpful home tips and brushing techniques that they can carry out in the future to maximise their oral health, and ensure that they do not have to return to the dental chair too often. It is recommended that patients visit their dental hygienist around once every six months, to allow any onset signs of gingivitis or gum disease to be identified, and to have their teeth professionally cleaned when required. All of which aims, not to make your smile more ‘beautiful’, but rather more healthy, which really is far more important.
