Who can be called a Dental Hygienist
A Dental Hygienist is a registered health professional and has graduated from an accredited school of dental hygiene. In order to practice in New Zealand, dental hygienists need to be registered with the Dental Council of NZ and have an annual practicing certificate (APC).
The Dental Hygienist's Role In A Practice Setting
Through clinical services, patient education and evaluation, they seek to prevent oral diseases, provide treatment for existing disease and assist people in maintaining an optimum level of oral health.
Preventive Maintenance is Important for Long Term Oral Health!
The major role is in the provision of oral health education and the prevention of oral disease to promote healthy oral behaviours. The primary task is in prevention and non-surgical treatment of periodontal diseases. A dental hygienist guides patients’ personal care to maintain sound oral tissues as an integral part of their general health. Dental hygienists practise in a team situation with clinical guidance provided by a practising dentist or dental specialist.
DENTISTS usually refer the Patient to the Dental Hygienist
The dental hygienist is specially trained to perform this service and is allocated time for scaling, polishing and oral hygiene education. In some cases the dentist and dental hygienist will agree to refer the patient to a specialist for further treatment.
The Importance of Home Care
Effective dental home care techniques help prevent gum disease and tooth decay, both of which are leading causes for tooth loss in New Zealand. Such problems are then less likely to progress into more serious dental ailments requiring more extensive treatment.
Other Health Concerns Related To Gum Disease
Research shows a link between a higher risk of:
- delivering premature, low birth weight infants
- lung disease
- heart disease
- Preventive Dental Hygiene For Adults And Children
In the treatment of both adults and children, the dental hygienist will begin by examining the gums and soft tissues. Meticulously remove all traces of bacterial deposits (plaque and calculus) from the teeth. This is known as scaling and polishing.
Other treatments may include removal of surface staining and polishing of fillings. Children's teeth often require different forms of specialised treatment, including the application of fluoride in both solution and gel forms to teeth. Hygienists can often help to prevent decay in children's teeth by applying fissure sealants: a plastic material which fills in the fissures and grooves on the biting surface of teeth.
Discomfort
Dental hygiene treatment of a healthy mouth should not cause discomfort. If treatment is not comfortable it is important that you discuss this with the hygienist. Various pain control techniques are available.
The Cost
Depending on the type of treatment performed, costs may vary. Ask your hygienist or dentist about treatment costs before the appointment.