Dental Hygienist Services
Dental hygienists focus their work on the prevention, treatment and monitoring of inflammatory diseases of the mouth, treatment of attachment tissue, and counseling and guidance. The dental hygienist's most used services include tartar removal and teeth whitening using different methods.
Gum diseases
A common problem found in the mouth is gingivitis. Gingivitis is caused by poor oral hygiene and tartar that accumulates on the surface of the teeth. The first symptom of gingivitis is bad breath or bleeding gums. The inflamed gum is red and often slightly swollen.
If gingivitis is not treated, the inflammation leads to tooth periodontitis, i.e. attachment tissue infection.
Gingivitis is treated by cleaning the surfaces of the teeth. The cleaning is done by a periodontologist (dentist specializing in dental attachment tissues and gum care) or a dental hygienist using hand instruments and an ultrasound device. Equally important is managing the home care of the teeth and choosing the right cleaning tools. Sometimes we have to resort to surgical treatment of the supporting tissue.
After the inflammation subsides, the aim is to prevent re-infections with regular dental check-ups and tartar cleaning. When a dental hygienist or dentist performs cleanings often enough, it significantly reduces the risk of losing teeth due to periodontitis.
Scaling
Hard and calcified plaque or calculus easily forms on the surface of the teeth. Tartar removal is important because it perpetuates gingivitis, which in turn contributes to the onset of periodontal disease. Tartar is also linked to bad breath. Tartar can form not only on the surfaces of the teeth but also in the gum pocket. Tartar forms especially easily in areas that are difficult to clean, such as between the teeth.
Removing tartar cannot be done at home. At our Hampaasi dental clinic, trained dental hygienists remove tartar using an ultrasound device and an instrument intended for tartar removal. Tartar removal is usually an easy procedure that does not cause pain. However, if necessary, the mucous membranes of the mouth can be numbed with gel. Anesthetizing the gums and teeth is also possible.
You can prevent tartar by brushing your teeth regularly with fluoride toothpaste twice a day. The interdental spaces should be cleaned either with dental floss, a toothpick or an interdental brush. Oral hygienists give more detailed advice on effective dental care.
Oral hygienists also perform powder cleaning of teeth (sodacleaning) and whitenings, which can be combined with calculus removal.