What does an oral hygienist do?

Preventative oral healthcare is the primary service all oral hygienists provide. An oral hygienist is a trained healthcare practitioner who focuses on the prevention and early detection of oral disease as well as the remineralisation and preservation of the remaining portion of the healthy tooth structure.

Oral hygiene is the daily practice of keeping the mouth and teeth clean to minimise the risk of dental issues such as bad breath, cavities and gingivitis. Even though the mouth can be kept clean through flossing, regular brushing and mouth rinsing, specialised treatments and cleanings may be required at times.

What services do oral hygienists provide?

Oral hygienists focus on maintaining the cleanliness of the mouth to reduce the risk of oral disease.

Types of services oral hygienists specialise in:

• Dental scaling and polishing: Scaling and polishing is a procedure that involves removing plaque build-up, including stains and tartar, from the surfaces of the teeth.
• Root planing and scaling: Root planing and scaling are considered deep cleaning treatments in dentistry. This specialised routine cleaning rids the teeth of tartar (solidified mineral deposits) that can stick to the teeth deep under the gingiva. These treatments may be required for advanced gum disease (periodontitis).
• Teeth whitening is a safe and effective way of making teeth a few shades lighter than average. Specific factors to consider before teeth whitening include your current oral health and the presence of existing fillings or other restorations. Our skilled oral hygienists will discuss this with you in further detail.
• Retainers: Retainers are custom-designed plastic trays worn over the teeth in the mouth to prevent tooth movement, especially after orthodontics.
• Mouth guards: Mouth guards fit snugly inside the mouth, offering maximum protection when engaged in sports, games and training sessions. Mouth guards cushion the teeth, preventing serious injury to the teeth during intense physical exercise.
• Dental fissure sealants: Dental sealants are protective coatings that safeguard the deep grooves or fissures of the molars against cavities.