It comes as a surprise to patients that their dental health issues are largely preventable. This fact places a significant amount of emphasis on preventing dental conditions and promoting proactive oral health habits. For patients, the role adental hygienist in Edinburgh plays in a dental team is a valuable one – patients are encouraged to take preventive measures by living healthier lifestyles, to avoid having to treat conditions further in the future. Proper professional dental support is critical to both optimal dental and general health. A recentresearch study geared towards current dental trends in the UK indicated that 75 per cent of adult respondents conceded that there is a significant correlation between poor oral health and the overall physical and mental health of a person.
What does an oral hygienist really do?
Their particular focus and main responsibility is to provide patients with preventive dental care. These preventive types of treatment are three-fold.
- Providing patients with professional teeth cleaning
A common type of professional teeth cleaning treatment is the scale and polish. This procedure requires special instruments and techniques to effectively remove stubborn plaque and tartar and thereafter the teeth are polished. Other tasks may include protecting teeth by applying sealants and providing patients with a fluoride-based rinse.
- Conducting mouth examinations to detect signs of oral diseases and other dental concerns
Taking X-rays of a patient’s mouth form part of a thorough oral evaluation. Patients will also be asked questions about their oral cleaning routine and other related habits (such as smoking and lifestyle) and any existing medical conditions that may be impacting their oral health.
- Educate patients by providing them with essential information on how to improve and maintain good oral health
In playing the role of oral health educator, an oral hygienist will suggest proper techniques in brushing and flossing. Seeing how foods and drinks a patient consumes has a direct impact on oral health, tips will be provided on the types of foods to avoid and those that are most beneficial in keeping the mouth healthy. TheOral Health Foundation warns against high sugar consumption – all types of sugars including fructose, glucose and sucrose – as these sugars destroy teeth. A useful tip to determine sugar content in foods is to read the list of ingredients carefully. The higher up the list sugar is mentioned, the greater the amount of sugar has been used.
Additional treatments provided to patients
Oral hygienists also provide patients with treatments such as the following:
- Treating halitosis (bad breath)
- Removing teeth stains (teeth whitening)
- Oral cancer screening
- Check-ups to detect early warning signs of problems
How an oral hygienist can boost self-confidence
A cleaner mouth and fresher breath, not to mention whiter smile, works wonders on elevating self-confidence levels. Seeing that an oral hygienist provides treatment on all three smile-enhancing criteria, it goes without saying that visiting an oral hygienist regularly is well worth the effort.
Making healthy teeth a priority is easy. The first step is to schedule a check-up today with a dental practitioner to ensure that there are no dental issues lurking around the corner or to seek proper treatment to avoid any condition from developing more serious complications.
