Some people may think a visit to the Hygienist is a sign they have a problem with their teeth or gums. The truth is everybody can benefit from visiting a Hygienist twice a year. While a Dentist's focus is to assess your oral health and deal with problems, the dental Hygienist  focuses  on achieving and maintaining the best possible standard of dental health.

This helps you to reduce tooth decay, tooth wear and gum disease, which is a leading cause of teeth loss. Gum disease can also be a cause of many other problems in your general health. Gum disease affects more than three quarters of all people, regardless of race, nationality, or socio-economic levels. In fact, half the population in their thirties have at least one tooth affected with gum disease. The good news is that the earlier gum disease is detected, the more successful the treatment results.

Achieving Excellent Oral health is a genuine challenge for the majority. Our dental hygienist appointment, enables you to prevent potential future lost teeth and compromised overall health... Gum Disease generally triggers bad breath and tooth loss. It also allows bacteria into your blood. There is growing evidence that these bacteria may ultimately overcome your immune system and cause general health concerns such as heart disease...

At Lane Ends Dental Practice we believe in preventive dentistry. That is why we have established an excellent oral hygiene program to ensure you maintain a natural, healthy smile for life. Our dental hygienists are highly trained professionals who are skilled in all areas of preventative dental care. You’re not just getting a “clean”, but comprehensive approach to great oral health.

The Dental Hygienist appointment is designed to evaluate your dental health.  Firstly, any existing gum disease is treated and then, most importantly, measures are put in place to avert any further occurrences and maintain oral health. 

If plaque is left near the gum for a long time, the gum becomes inflamed, changes colour and looks red and swollen, feels sore and even bleeds when you brush it. If it is still not treated the gum will become slack around the teeth and more debris can get down under the gum line. The bone under the gum will then start to “shrink back” and without the bone to support the tooth, it may become loose and eventually fall out or need to be removed.

Gum disease is often painless and slow and many patients are unaware that they have it. Bleeding gums is a common condition, although is not normal and you should make an appointment to see us. Bleeding is often an indication that the gums are inflamed which is usually due to plaque build-up on the surface of the teeth. This inflammation is referred to as gingivitis. If left untreated further damage to your oral and general health may arise.

There are many causes of bad breath, which can lead to loss of confidence and self-esteem for individuals. Some of the common ones are gum disease, poor oral hygiene, dry mouth, smoking, and bacteria.  Our oral hygiene team will assess the cause and determine the specific products and treatments required to give you a fresh healthy breath.

The main treatment for gum disease involves intense cleaning under the gums. This may be done under local anaesthetics and often needs doing regularly to maintain the health of your gums and prevent tooth loss. Some people have a genetic predisposition to gum disease, meaning they are more prone to developing it .

If gum disease is the cause of halitosis, our expert dental hygienist will clean the pockets between your teeth and gums to remove the ingrained bacteria.

Along with your regular dental examination and hygiene visits, brushing and flossing are the most important things you can do to maintain great dental health.   Brush your teeth at least twice a day. Regular and thorough brushing removes the plaque that causes gum disease and decay. Floss at least once a day. Flossing removes plaque and bacteria from places your toothbrush can’t reach, like between your teeth. To get into a routine of flossing, try to floss when you’re doing something else, when watching TV or listening to music.

We are not only dedicated to maintaining your smile, but also to your overall wellness. Your oral cancer screening is pain free and part of your routine examination. It involves a simple visual examination of your oral cavity as a whole. We also feel the tissues of your mouth and throat to detect any abnormalities.