Our hygienists support the work carried out at your regular dental examinations and help prevent gum disease and decay developing with tailored treatment, tips and advice.
We are committed to looking after your teeth and gum health. Gum disease can be mild, and we are best placed to spot it before it worsens and becomes a more serious issue.
Firstly, we examine your teeth and gums, looking for any signs of gum disease or decay that may need special attention. We will discuss how we can best treat your gums to improve and maintain their health and explain the treatment to you. We take a gentle approach, helping even more nervous patients feel at ease.
The main part of your hygiene appointment is a deep clean, removing stubborn tartar from areas in the mouth that are hard to reach with regular brushing at home. We then give your teeth a professional polish, leaving them feeling smoother, cleaner and brighter.
We take the time to give you tips and advice on how to properly care for your teeth and gums at home, and give you the opportunity to ask any questions.
Gum disease is a common condition, but carries few, if any, noticeable symptoms in the early stages. Most of the plaque that builds up on the teeth can be removed with regular brushing, but it can accumulate in areas that are harder to reach. This causes redness and inflammation and results in gingivitis, the early stage of gum disease.
If this is left untreated, the gums start to recede, forming pockets between the gum and tooth. These fill with plaque and bacteria, and is a more destructive stage, known as periodontitis. This stage of gum disease can’t be reversed, but can be controlled and maintained before it gets any worse.
At Aspire Smiles, we can help with a range of treatments designed to improve your gum health and enhance the appearance of your smile.
Aesthetic Crown Lengthening – If your teeth appear shorter than they should, with too much gum showing when you smile, we can make them look longer with crown lengthening. This is an oral surgery procedure to remove excess gum tissue, and occasionally some bone, from around the upper teeth. Crown lengthening is a single treatment, lasting around an hour. As well as improving the look of your smile, reducing the gum can also reduce your risk of decay or gum disease.
Gummy Smile – If your smile shows too much of your gum line, or is more gum than teeth, you may feel self conscious and avoid smiling in public. We can help reshape and contour your gums, improving the appearance of your smile in a single short treatment. Uneven gums can be made more symmetrical and excess gum tissue removed to expose more of your natural tooth and get you smiling again!
Periodontal Disease Treatment – Periodontitis can’t be reversed, but we can help you to control it. Procedures including root planing, pocket reduction surgery and gum grafts can help remove plaque and bacteria and reduce some of the symptoms of gum disease. We are happy to give you detailed advice and discuss the treatment options available to you to help you maintain healthier gums and keep your natural teeth for longer.
Pocket Reduction Surgery – If gum disease has advanced, and can’t be treated with a professional clean alone, we can perform pocket reduction surgery. We can remove plaque and bacteria from the pockets formed due to gum disease and smooth areas of damaged bone. We want to do all we can to save your natural teeth by eliminating the plaque formed and helping you maintain good oral hygiene for the long term.
If you are a member of our dental plan, you will benefit from regular hygiene appointments. You will also receive discounts on our treatments and free emergency appointments when required. We look after the whole family, with children up to the age of 16 attending for free when on a membership.
For advice and to help you decide on the best plan for you, please speak to a member of our team. Plans start from as little as £9.75 per month.
You can expect your hygienist appointment to last around 30-40 minutes, depending on the condition of your teeth and gums. Your hygienist will professionally clean your teeth, check your teeth and gums for any issues and advise you on the best way to keep up with your oral hygiene routine at home.
While you should still keep up with your regular dental check ups, if you feel you would like an additional hygienist appointment you do not have to wait for your dentist to refer you first. Simply get in touch to make an appointment.
Ideally, you should visit the hygienist every six months, to help us take the best care of your teeth and gums. In some cases, we may advise you to attend more or less frequently, depending on your overall oral health.
The aim of a hygiene appointment is not to whiten teeth, but you may find your teeth appear whiter after they have been professionally cleaned. If you would like to find out more about treatments to help you achieve a dazzling white smile, please ask your dentist.
We’re here when you need us. Flexible opening hours for your convenience.
We are closed for lunch between 13:00 - 14:00 Monday to Thursday and 12:00 - 12:30 on Fridays.
