Category: Dental Hygienist

Our Dental Hygienist in Edinburgh is a suitably qualified professional who plays a valuable supportive role at our dental clinic that encompasses preventive and therapeutic dental services and treatments. Another vitally important role of a Dental Hygienist in Edinburgh is to educate patients about oral hygiene, how to take care of their teeth and how to clean them properly.

Considering the various roles played by a Dental Hygienist in Edinburgh, much thought needs to be given to the choice in professionals that will deliver great quality dental care. At Craigentinny dental clinic we focus on offering an exceptional dental experience that can only be met with by our dental practitioners having a few pertinent characteristics.

Desirable qualities to look for in a dental hygienist

Qualifications as stipulated by regulatory bodies

The practising dental hygienist should have the relevant qualifications as well as skills deemed necessary by regulatory bodies to ensure patients receive appropriate standards of care. In order to qualify to treat patients, dental hygienists need to pass prescribed courses and examinations that prove competencies.

The ability to listen to patient concerns

We believe that it is not only important that we provide a high level of care to our patients but that we also take the time to listen to the concerns patients have about their oral health. The ability to listen is vital if we are to correctly diagnose a problem in order to suggest a suitable treatment plan.

Respond to patients with empathy

Empathy allows us to be more aware of the discomfort patients may experience on a visit to our dental clinic. We acknowledge that such experiences can be quite traumatic for patients and we do our best to address these issues with understanding, sensitivity and compassion.

Effective communication skills

Next to great listening skills, a dental hygienist should also be able to communicate well with their patients. This is important to ensure patients receive critically vital information, advice and tips in a way that is clear and relatable.

Analytic ability

In addition to technical capabilities, the dental hygienist should possess a high level of analytical abilities necessary for successful treatments. Often a holistic overview of a patient’s situation has to be gleaned to get to the root cause of the problem.

An engaging professional with the required people skills

A great dental hygienist has an enviable capacity to ease patient anxiety by displaying a calmness of manner. He/she is able to engage with patients and present complex information in a clear and digestible way.

Pays attention to the details

Many of the tasks performed by a dental hygienist necessitate a certain level of painstaking attention to detail and focus. A great deal of care needs to be taken to assess symptoms correctly and safely while at the same time making sure patients do not experience any discomfort.

Find a registered dental hygienist at Craigentinny dental clinic who believes in empowering and educating patients to promote excellent dental health. Get the right dental care from qualified and compassionate dental practitioners.

As a professional dental surgery, our team at Craigentinny gets asked a fair array of questions about preventive dentistry.

Brushing your teeth twice a day and attending regular check-ups are important, but there is so much more you can do to prevent both decay and gum disease at home. And, one way to prevent both periodontal disease and decay is as simple as brushing.

We are talking about flossing.

Before you groan and think of a way to downplay its importance to dental hygiene, flossing is incredibly important for maintaining dental care. Yet, up to 80% of dental patients don’t floss their teeth after they brush. Shocking!

At Craigentinny, our dental hygienist in Edinburgh can help you to maintain good dental health and can advise you on other ways to prevent issues with your dental hygiene before they occur. We can show your children too! Teaching a correct brushing and flossing technique is essential to keeping their teeth white and their mouths healthy!

But, back to adult dentistry; why is flossing twice a day so important? Our dental hygienist in Edinburgh will explain.

More effective

OK, so, while brushing your teeth is a great way to clean the fronts and the backs of them, how can you ensure that you have cleaned those small gaps between your teeth? With flossing!

If you want to maintain a thorough and effective dental regime, our dental hygienist in Edinburgh recommends flossing your teeth after you brush.

Providing a more thorough clean for your teeth, it prevents the build-up of bacteria in those hard to reach places, which can turn into cavities or tartar. It’s not worth the risk!

Gum protection

Obviously, while flossing gives the surface of your teeth a more thorough clean, it also provides your gums with a more intense clean too.

While we recommend flossing your gums gently (don’t make them bleed!), it can be surprisingly effective at removing plaque or bacteria. Left unchecked, these microscopic nasties increase the risk of gum disease. So, get some floss and get flossing!

Other diseases can be prevented

You have probably heard of the link between plaque accumulation in the mouth and other conditions, such as heart disease.

These statements are not to just scare you into performing better oral hygiene! There is a substantial link between plaque, gum disease, decay, and cardiovascular issues, diabetes, and even cancer. The reason? If left in place, plaque and bacteria cause inflammation of the gums, making them more porous. In turn, this allows more microbes access to the bloodstream, which can cause havoc on the other systems in your body.

Brush and floss regularly!

Reduces bad breath

Bad breath is not only a social faux-pas, but it is not fun to have either.

While mouthwash can help eradicate this in the short-term, regular flossing will remove odour causing bacteria, leaving you with fresh, minty breath and a glowing smile to match.

So, make sure that the next time you brush your teeth that you floss them too!

If you are like the majority of people, you may assume that maintaining a healthy smile involves attending biannual check-ups, brushing your teeth twice a day and avoiding sugary foods.

Of course, these are all important parts of keeping your smile healthy, but as we age or go through other changes like pregnancy or illness, we may need a bit more help to keep our teeth looking pearly white and healthy.

While many dental patients find switching to a stronger toothpaste helpful, in many instances, this is not enough to keep their oral health in top shape and so, many people find themselves turning to our team at Craigentinny for more advice.

Luckily, at Craigentinny, we have an onsite dental hygienist in Edinburgh, who can help you maintain good oral health, regardless of what life has thrown at you! If you are pregnant, undertaking treatment with a strong medication or simply have a family history of gum disease, our team can help!

How exactly does our dental hygienist in Edinburgh do this? How are they different from other members of our dental team? Read on to find out!

Scale and polish

One of the most common procedures that our dental hygienist in Edinburgh performs on our patients is the scale and polish.

Designed to remove tartar and plaque below the gumline, this treatment reduces the risk of periodontal disease like gingivitis and, if you already have gum disease, it is one of the first steps in the treatment process.

Once the plaque is removed, using a specialised brush, our hygienist will gently polish your teeth, to make them look whiter and healthier. Perfect!

Prescription mouthwash and toothpaste

There are many reasons for our patients at Craigentinny to need prescription-strength toothpaste and mouthwash.

One of the most common involves acid erosion of the enamel, caused by pregnancy or even medical treatments like chemotherapy. As pregnant women often experience morning sickness, this causes excessive levels of acid to come into contact with the teeth. In order to prevent acid damage, a prescribed toothpaste or mouthwash can help neutralise the acid and protect the teeth. An associated treatment that our hygienists perform may also involve painting fluoride sealant onto the teeth, to boost the strength of the enamel.

Treatment plans

If you have gum disease, are pregnant or are currently taking a medication that may weaken your enamel, (such as immunosuppressants), then you are going to need a specialised dental plan.

Devised by both our hygienists and regular dental team, these customised plans will endeavour to keep your teeth and gums in the best of health, and will prevent issues such as gum disease, tooth decay or even tooth loss! As part of drawing up your plan, our hygienist may need to take X-rays of your teeth, to help explore issues such as jawbone loss or gum disease in more depth.

Remember, brushing and flossing alone are rarely enough to keep your teeth healthy! Book an appointment to see our dental hygienist today!

When you find out you are pregnant, your teeth are probably the last thing on your mind.

However, just as you intend to care for every aspect of your health to ensure a pleasant pregnancy, it is equally important that you look after your teeth during these important nine months.

As your baby grows and develops, your body is going to undergo some rather radical hormonal changes, some of which will leave your skin glowing and others that could cause issues to your gums and teeth.

At Craigentinny, our team has helped multiple women get through their pregnancies with ease, while ensuring that their overall oral health remains at a high level. Our dentists and dental hygienist in Edinburgh will help guide you through any changes that may occur in your mouth due to pregnancy, to keep you and your baby healthy.

But how can pregnancy impact your oral health? Read on to find out.

Pregnancy gingivitis

Gingivitis is a nuisance at the best of times but during pregnancy your chances of developing this condition increases.

Due to your body’s reaction to plaque accumulation, your gums are more likely to become swollen and painful. Not exactly what you need during pregnancy! Regular visits to our dentist and dental hygienist in Edinburgh can quickly identify pregnancy gingivitis, remove any stubborn plaque, and put a treatment plan in place.

Pregnancy granulomas

Another common dental occurrence during pregnancy is the formation of growths in the mouth.

Pregnancy granulomas are usually nothing to worry about and once your pregnancy is over, they will usually resolve on their own. However, if you notice that they are becoming painful or impacting on your ability to eat, book an appointment to see our dentist and dental hygienist in Edinburgh.

Depending on the size and the location of the granuloma, our team will aim to remove it with the use of a localised anesthetic, allowing you to eat and drink as you need to; you are eating for two!

Enamel erosion

In those early months of pregnancy, morning sickness can be a serious pain.
Each time you suffer from sickness, your teeth are being exposed to high concentrations of acid, which often leads to erosion of the enamel.

Seeing a member of our team at Craigentinny can help keep your enamel intact, through the use of fluoride sealants and medicated mouthwash. We can also offer you acid-reducing toothpaste.

Inflammation

Morning sickness, plaque accumulation and stress on the body is the perfect storm, so to speak, for inflammation.

Separate to pregnancy gingivitis, this inflammation can appear under the tongue in the form of ulcers and sores. Not exactly fun! Our team can provide you with anti-inflammatory mouthwash and toothpaste to help keep the inflammation down.

Tooth decay

During pregnancy, due to the aforementioned reasons and the unusual food cravings, you are more likely to suffer from tooth decay.

Be sure to brush thoroughly and visit a member of our team every two months to minimise the risk of decay.

You could be forgiven for thinking that in order to maintain a high level of dental health, all you have to do is visit your dentist twice a year, while also maintaining a good oral hygiene regime at home.

While these are of course an essential part of keeping your mouth healthy, as you age, or indeed if you have a family history of periodontal disease, you may need a bit more help to keep your pearly whites looking their best.

At Craigentinny, we can offer you a wide range of preventive treatments to keep your teeth and gums at their healthiest. Our hygienist in Edinburgh can help you maintain a high quality of oral health, while also polishing and cleaning your teeth to look their whitest! Talk about a fantastic two for one treatment!

So, how exactly does a biannual trip to our dental therapist/ hygienist in Edinburgh help keep your mouth healthy?

Learn how to care for your teeth

It may seem like an odd thing to need to visit a dental professional for, but based on your individual teeth, diet, health, and age, a dental therapist can target your home dental hygiene routine, to keep your teeth and gums in top condition.

Upon completing an examination of your mouth, our hygienist in Edinburgh will be able to identify areas that you are missing and where plaque is accumulating, and advise you on how to care for this area correctly. They can also advise you on which toothbrush is best suited to your mouth and also discuss with you which toothpaste and mouthwash you would benefit the most from.

Detecting and treating gum disease

As we age, or if we have poor oral health, we are more susceptible to gum or periodontal diseases.

While a trip to your regular dentist can identify gum disease, a trip to a dental therapist can assess the severity of the condition, suggest a treatment plan and work at removing any offending plaque.

Dental therapists can provide those who have gum disease with medicated mouthwashes and toothpaste too, to help you fight the disease at home.

Fluoride treatments

If you have the tell-tale signs of cavity formation, a dental therapist can apply a fluoride sealant to your teeth.

This will help harden the weakened enamel, restore the tooth and prevent the cavity from forming; a great way to prevent decay and infection from spreading!

Plaque removal

Known as the ‘scale and polish,’ our dental therapists can remove plaque both above and below your gum line.

This treatment prevents gum disease, cavities, and infections, whilst also whitening your smile and giving your teeth an additional sparkle!

Oral cancer screening

Oral cancer rates are rising in the UK, and at Craigentinny, we are proud to be able to offer our patients oral cancer screening as part of a dental therapist visit.

If our team is concerned with your examination, we will send you to an oral cancer specialist to continue the treatment as soon as possible.

As we get older our teeth take more work to look after and having a good oral health routine is key in making sure that those prized chompers stand the test of time. Sadly some people still struggle with finding a routine that works for them, so we’ve asked our dental hygienist in Edinburgh to provide a short list of things you can do to upgrade your oral care game.

Introduce flossing

First up on the list of things our dental hygienist in Edinburgh would recommend is flossing. Using dental floss at least once a day helps to clear out any plaque, tartar and food particles that stick in those hard to reach places that you may miss when you brush. To maximise your cleaning potential we recommend that you give your teeth a good once over with a strip of dental floss after every meal.

Regularly rinse with mouthwash

Another item that’s worth introducing to your cleaning routine is a mouthwash brand. Regularly rinsing at least once a day after brushing will provide a deep clean feeling, provide lasting protection from bacteria and eliminate bad breath that might be brought on by your diet or smoking. There are also a lot of different brands, strengths and types on the market that can cater to a wide range of cleaning needs.

At Craigentinny Dental Care our team can provide a wealth of information and recommendations to help you find a mouthwash brand that will suit you.

Brush often

Arguably one of the most important pieces of advice we can provide is to just brush as many times as you can throughout the day. Generally you should give your mouth a good clean at least twice a day if it’s possible, once in the morning and then again at night before you head to bed. Doing this will clear out any food particles that can build up throughout your day or during the night and not doing so will allow tartar and plaque to build up.

Try using an electric toothbrush

For that far reaching deep clean feeling you should consider swapping your manual brush for an electric powered version if you haven’t already. Using their vibrating heads and sonic technology they are able to reach further between your teeth and gums than you would be able to with a standard brush.

They are also a good choice for elderly or younger patients who may struggle to hold their arms in one position for long periods of time as they brush, as it does almost all of the work.

Schedule regular check-ups

Finally, booking an appointment every six months to come see our team is another recommendation from us, as it lets our team track your progress, as well as keep on top of any potential oral health issues that could crop up.

These are just a few things you can introduce to your current cleaning routine to increase your chances of keeping any oral health issues at bay as you get older. If you would like further information on how you can change your current cleaning routine then just contact our team at the practice for a chat.

For over 25 years Craigentinny Dental Care has been delivering a first class dental service to its patients from around the Edinburgh area. We offer a wide range of treatments and have justifiably acquired a great reputation for an exceptional level of patient care.

Why do I need a dental hygienist in Edinburgh?

Why wait until you have a raging toothache to see a dental hygienist in Edinburgh? It is always a lot easier to have a check-up before the problems start, so you can head off trouble at the pass. If you have regular visits to the hygienist many problems can be prevented from occurring as dental health comes from a good dental hygiene. Many of us are anxious about visiting the dentist and do leave it until we have a toothache or even a swollen gum, which could be a sign of an abscess. By this time it is a clear sign that you will have to got to the dentist sooner rather than later or even have to book an emergency appointment. With advancements in dental techniques and equipment there is no need why your visit with a dentist or dental hygienist today should be anything other than comfortable. Staff at Craigentinny Dental Care are well trained in helping and understanding anxious and nervous patients and will work hard to put you at your ease and explain things to you. If you have missing, broken or damaged teeth, there is no need to put your hand over your mouth when you smile, give yourself the gift of a great smile and see your confidence and self-esteem soar. With Craigentinny Dental Care it’s never too late to make a good first impression.

About Craigentinny in Edinburgh

At Craigentinny Dental Care we put our patients firmly at the very forefront of everything we do. We pride ourselves on being approachable and friendly and many of our patients come by way of referrals from our existing patients. We provide a truly outstanding dental service to both young and old. We offer both NHS service and private care all under one roof. Our team is lead by our principal dentists Fraser Hendrie and John Booth who, along with other highly qualified dentists and their superb team of support staff, work together to deliver a truly exceptional level of dental service. We offer an impressive range of treatments and our integrated team is able to provide a specialist service in many areas of dentistry. We firmly believe that good oral health starts with an excellent dental routine, including regular check- ups and ongoing maintenance and we advocate this to all of our patients both young and old. Where treatment is required we offer a range of procedures to get you smiling again. For missing, broken or damaged teeth we offer a full sphere of restorative dentistry including implants, crowns, bridgework and dentures. If you are looking to acquire that knock out Hollywood smile we are pleased to offer the latest whitening treatments and porcelain veneers. We offer a wide and comprehensive payment options including interest free finance to spread the cost of your dental treatment with easy monthly payments.

Did you know that a dentist and a dental hygienist in Edinburgh are actually different people? They have been trained in many of the same fields of dentistry, giving them a broad and deep understanding of facial anatomy and structure and teeth and gum development and health, however both professionals have branched off into different fields and have specialised in a certain role that appeals to their personality and skills.

A dental hygienist in Edinburgh is an essential addition to your oral hygiene routine. They are just as important as your bi-yearly dental checkup and they can assist you in maintaining strong and healthy teeth that can last you a lifetime.

We have chosen our team members because they are compassionate, have a unique ability to communicate well and are gentle, perhaps not what you think of when you think of a hygienist! Our team members believe it is important that you feel comfortable with us, so that you are eager to return and establish good health habits for life.

Our work is based around preventive care. We educate you on how to look after your teeth properly in a bespoke manner, meaning that we understand what your areas of concern are and help you to focus your efforts on achieving maximum positive results.

We also clean your teeth. Properly. By using specialised tools and equipment, we are able to remove plaque and attack stubborn tartar that brushing alone cannot remove. This caked on substance is not only unsightly, but it damages the enamel on your teeth and can injure your gums.

We remove food that gets stuck in places that you didn’t know you had, reducing chances of infection, clearing away the culprits for bad breath and leaving you with a silky smooth feeling that you can’t help but keep running your teeth over.

Sounds amazing. How often should I visit?

The better your oral hygiene routine is at home, the less work that needs to be done. We recommend that you come in to see us every 6 months, just like you would with your dentist, so that we can keep on top of plaque and tartar and keep your mouth feeling fresh, looking great and best of all, healthy.

By having your teeth professionally cleaned, you can also benefit from an effective and natural whitening treatment. When we scale and polish your teeth, light staining can be removed. By doing this often enough, there is no chance for heavy staining to build up to cause you embarrassment or concern.

Your smile is very important. It is usually the first thing people see and first impressions are everything. By looking after your smile in the best way that you can, we want you to be able to put your best foot forward in all of the ventures that you may have in life.

We look forward to seeing you, getting to know who you are and enjoying our time together. Your journey towards a healthier and happier mouth is important to us, and every one of our patients can feel this warmth and compassion. 

Prevention has always been better than cure and when one considers dental health, many issues seen by dentists and experienced by patients could have been prevented at an earlier stage.

Maintaining a high level of oral hygiene is more than simply brushing and flossing your teeth twice a day and if you have additional dental needs, such as wearing braces or using dentures, you will require more specialised treatments to keep your mouth in tip top condition.

At Craigentinny Dental Care, we can offer you the highest quality preventive treatments available; our dental hygienist in Edinburgh can provide you with top to bottom preventive dental treatment, regardless of the condition of your teeth or your gums.

Why is visiting a dental hygienist important?

While visiting your general dentist twice a year is part of dental health maintenance, if you are at a higher risk of conditions like gum disease or require personalised dental treatment, you will need to visit a hygienist at least once a year.

Our dental hygienist in Edinburgh is an important member of our dental team and provides a valuable service to all of our patients. Alongside providing services like a scale and polish, our hygienists also undertake more complicated dental cases too.

If you have been referred by a member of our dental team to our dental hygienist in Edinburgh, they can provide you with the following preventive services.

Scale and Polish

A scale and polish procedure is both a thorough cleaning of your teeth and a preventive treatment.

When plaque forms on the teeth, it can be hard to remove with a manual toothbrush alone. Accumulations of plaque can lead to issues like tooth decay and gum disease, it is important to remove stubborn plaque and tartar.

During a scale and polish, an electric scaler will remove built up plaque or tartar. This will dislodge the plaque on the surface of the teeth and in between the teeth. Next, a hand scaler will be used to remove plaque from between the teeth. Then, a thorough clean or polish is conducted on the teeth, to remove any stubborn surface stains.

Fissure sealants

To prevent tooth decay, our hygienists may apply a sealant to the surface of the tooth, to harden the enamel. It is typically applied to the molar or ‘back’ teeth and is painted on to the tooth.

Topical fluorides

If there is evidence of caries or cavities forming on a tooth, the hygienist will apply a topical fluoride. This will mineralise the tooth and prevent the development of cavities. It also kills cavity causing bacteria on the tooth.

Personalised advice and techniques

If you have braces, you will require specialised cleaning twice a year with a hygienist alongside advice on how to maintain your braces.

This also applies to people with dentures, dental implants, partial bridges or those patients who are diabetic, pregnant or undertaking certain medical therapies or treatments.

Having a good dental routine can make a world of difference when it comes to keeping your teeth in their best condition. But most of us still struggle to keep up a regular deep cleaning schedule and as such, stains and gaps start to appear over time from numerous issues caused by poor maintenance.

That’s why at Craigentinny Dental Care we’ve came up with a few things your dental hygienist in Edinburgh might recommend you try to keep those pearly whites at their peak.

Brush often

It may seem pretty obvious, but it would surprise you how many people still don’t routinely brush their teeth. Our recommendation is that you give your teeth a good scouring at least twice a day, in the morning when you wake up and before you go to bed are the best times to do it.

If you can fit in more than twice a day then that’s great, just make sure you aren’t too vigorous with your scrubbing though as it can wear down the protective enamel layers of your teeth if you’re not careful.

Don’t forget your tongue

Another good tip from you will get from your dental hygienist in Edinburgh is to give your tongue a regular brush as well. This is because plaque can also build up there throughout the day, which in turn creates numerous other problems over time like bad breath.

A gentle rub once a night will usually solve this.

Add to your routine

Brushing alone is still good for your teeth, but adding in things like flossing and mouthwash will also help to keep your smile looking its best. Most over the counter bottles and packets of floss do a good enough job at removing any hard to reach plaque, just make sure to use them at least once a day.

A good brush makes all the difference

The type of toothbrush you use can also have quite an effect on how clean your teeth can be. The majority of people use manual brushes, which still do a great job, but an electric brush is worth a consideration. These offer a deeper clean as their vibrating tips can help to dislodge plaque and tartar from gaps you might not be able to reach normally.

Electric brushes are also a great choice for those that might have problems with mobility, like the elderly or young children just learning to brush, as it does all the work for you.

Regular check-ups

We can’t stress enough how important it is to come to the practice to see your dental hygienist in Edinburgh as often as you can. Booking regular appointments helps you to keep on top of any ongoing issues.

Just one of these is a great way to preserve your smile, but the more you include the better!  If you’re looking to improve your daily dental routine, then why not try making a few of the changes we mentioned above to help keep your breath fresh and your teeth sparkling for years to come.