Hygiene

A dental hygienist performs a professional cleaning, often called ‘scaling and polishing’, to thoroughly remove plaque and hard calculus (tartar) build-up from your teeth. Their aim is to prevent gum disease and tooth decay by focusing especially on the hard-to-reach areas of your mouth and educating you on the best oral hygiene techniques at home.

We recommend that most people in generally good oral health should see a hygienist every six months for routine maintenance and monitoring. However, we may advise you to leave longer or shorter intervals between your appointments, depending on your individual case.

A hygiene appointment focuses purely on the professional cleaning, removing plaque and tartar, and providing tailored advice on your daily oral care routine. In contrast, a dental check-up is performed by a dentist who conducts a comprehensive examination to diagnose and plan treatment for issues like tooth decay, gum disease and oral cancer.

For routine maintenance, plaque removal is generally not painful, though you may experience slight discomfort or unusual scraping sensations. If you have significant tartar build-up or gum inflammation, we can use numbing gel or a local anaesthetic to ensure you remain as comfortable as possible.

Yes, at Bramcote Dental Practice we are pleased to offer direct access hygiene appointments. You can book an appointment directly with our hygienist without needing to see a dentist first – a great option for if you need an extra visit or have any concerns.