What is the hygienists role in the dental practice?

Dental Hygienists are qualified members of the dental team who work together with the Dentist to provide fully integrated dental care.  They play an important role in dental health by not only treating periodontal (gum) disease but also providing the individual with the knowledge and skills to be able to maintain a healthy oral environment for life.  

Hygienist’s perform three main functions:

1. ‍Evaluation and assessment of your periodontal tissue (supporting tooth structures) to determine the level of health.
2. Removal of factors which may lead to the development or progression of periodontal disease, such as plaque and tartar by scaling, root-planing and polishing teeth, and smoothing fillings that have become rough through wear/age.
3. ‍Educating the client on what periodontal disease is, the cause and contributing factors, the importance of maintaining healthy foundations for teeth, and advising and demonstrating how you can care for your teeth and gums so you may maintain them in a healthy, disease free state for the rest of your life.

Several recent clinical studies show a direct link between poor oral hygiene and serious systemic diseases, such as:

• Cardiovascular Disease (Heart attack and Stroke)
• Bacterial Pneumonia
• Low Birth Weight/Extreme High Birth Weight
• Diabetes complications
• Osteoporosis