Dentist or dental hygienist in Edinburgh – what’s the difference?
At Craigentinny dental practice, we have a large team of dedicated professional standing by to assist with your oral care. This includes dentists, dental hygienists, dental nurses and a dental therapist. We also have our friendly receptionists who take care of all of the admin related to your appointments and records. They help to create a welcoming environment that helps you relax the minute you arrive.
Who will you see?
When you have your oral care at Craigentinny, you will generally be assigned a dentist who you will see at your regular check-ups. Sometimes, you may be referred to another member of our team for specific issues. You are likely to see the dental hygienist in Edinburgh for cleaning, polishing and preventive measures. Some members of our dental hygiene team are also qualified to take impressions and administer anaesthesia.
Is the dental hygienist in Edinburgh less qualified that then dentist?
It is true that a dentist studies for longer in order to gain their qualification than a dental hygienist. However, many dental hygienists continue to add to their skills as they work and some even work independently of dentists. They are also focused on specific areas of dentistry which they work with every day. When you come to Craigentinny, you are effectively being looked after by the whole team. Whether you are seeing the dentist, a dental therapist or a dental hygienist in Edinburgh, you will get continuity of care and a shared pool of knowledge.
What does a typical visit to the dental hygienist involve?
The main goal of the dental hygienist is to ensure that you leave your appointment feeling fresh, clean and well looked after. This usually involves the removal of plaque and tartar from the teeth followed by a polish.
The dental hygienist will also be able to give you care advice to combat any issues that they find or that you experience regularly. This might include oral hygiene tips, dietary advice or smoking cessation support.
If you like, they can also talk to you about preventive care such as fluoride applications. These are designed to prevent minor issues with your teeth developing and turning into bigger problems over time.
Questions for the dentist in Edinburgh
You know that whenever you engage with a new professional, you should ask all sorts of questions and check their qualifications to check that they are the right person for you. This is especially important when it comes to someone who is looking after your health, like a dentist in Edinburgh.
However, life is busy and often we overlook this step and just trust that someone is right for the job. What if there was a middle ground where you don’t have to take hours over research, but you do ask the right questions so that you know you’re in good hands? To help, you can ask some of the questions below.
Talking to a dentist in Edinburgh
The truth is that most dentists secretly love talking about the details of their practice with their patients. At Craigentinny, we appreciate any opportunity to communicate with our patients so that they feel great about what we can offer them. You can ask any question that you want to and we will give you clear, concise answers.
How experienced are you?
Your dentist in Edinburgh at Craigentinny can answer this question in a number of ways. We can talk to you about our qualifications and the professional developments standards we are required to meet each year in order to keep practising. Or we can talk about specific treatments, successes and results.
Will I experience pain?
If you are concerned about the sensations you will feel at the dentist in Edinburgh, please feel free to say so. We can offer you plenty of information and reassurance about what will happen. We are committed to changing people’s perception of dental appointments as something that must come with discomfort.
If you are particularly nervous, we can talk you through the various steps available that can change your experience. This might be anything from something to shield you from uncomfortable light or noises to extra sedation options that may be available.
Practicalities
We are open from 8am and we have free parking on site. We do everything we can to make your experience with us easy and quick so that taking care of your teeth does not need to interfere with your day.
Welcome to Craigentinny Dental Care
We, at Craigentinny Dental Care in Edinburgh , are very proud to announce the launch of our new website!
Take a look around and let us know what you think.
Read our blog to get the latest practice news, special offers and learn more about treatment options.
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Guided Biofilm Therapy
TEAM TRAINING OVERVIEW
Guided Biofilm Therapy Study Day
The team spent a fantastic day this week end with the staff of the Swiss Dental Academy learning about the finer points of one of the most up to date ways to prevent and treat gum problems, Guided Biofilm Therapy. Alison, Jill and Fraser were in attendance and took enough notes between them to fill a telephone directory ( if you are old enough to remember what they were! )
The study day was really useful and has helped us finalise the details of our updated preventive programme within the practice. Our hygiene team are really enthusiastic about this development so don’t be surprised if they are talking ( even more than usual) to you about this over the coming months. We hope that the changes we are making will improve the quality of the periodontal care that you receive, make it better targeted and bet of all should increase your comfort during treatment. Bold claims I know but watch this space and let us know what you think after your next visit or two.
If you are curious to know more take a look at the Guided Biofilm Therapy page on our main website, or just ask any of our clinical team who will be more than happy to share their knowledge.
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Never Ignore Misaligned Teeth!
Wearing braces is the usual corrective measure taken to straighten misaligned teeth and this can be very off-putting to many people. However, ignoring the problem can have long-term implications for both dental and medical health. Dental issues stemming from a misaligned bite range from minor conditions to more serious problems that will require a visit to the dentist for treatment.
The most common issues that have been linked to a misaligned bite include:
– Gum recession
– Headaches and jaw pain
– Tooth sensitivity
Even the slightest misalignment should be corrected as it “can lead to chronic issues” which could have been averted with early intervention. More detailed information can be found at https://yourdentalhealthresource.com/misalignedteeth/.
How Will a Dentist Clean and Polish Your Teeth?
The best way to maintain a set of pearly whites is to visit your hygienist on a regular basis. How will this professional polish your teeth to a bright shine? The traditional approach was to scale and polish the teeth, but newer ways of restoring the sparkle to your smile now exist.
-Traditionally once tartar is removed, the hygienist will apply a grainy paste.
– This paste is then scrubbed with an electric brush to remove stains.
All that is now changing with the advent of Airflow polishing, that uses mixture of air , water and fine powders to gently jet wash the stains away. After then any hard remaining deposits can be removed by your hygienist. This usually gets it the nooks and crannies that traditional scaling and polishing cant reach. it is particularly good for smokers, tea, coffee and red wine drinkers.
Is It Possible To Inherit Bad Teeth?
Research has shown that some people’s genetic makeup can make them more prone to certain oral conditions, like the ones mentioned below.
Key takeaways:
– Gum disease seems to run in certain families.
– Genetics can also affect the likelihood of having your teeth affected by decay.
– A family history of oral cancer could increase the chances of developing this disease.
Whether dental problems run in your family or not, it’s important that you follow the advice of your dentist on how to minimise the risks of developing oral disease.
Read the full story here: https://yourdentalhealthresource.com/which-dental-diseases-may-be-hereditary/
Pros and Cons of Water Flossing vs Normal Flossing
Standard flossing involves a string of dental floss to remove plaque and food debris from between your teeth, whereas water flossing uses a powerful jet of water:
– Dental floss is cheap and easy to use but can damage your gums if used over-zealously.
– Water flossing is more effective than dental floss, however, it is more expensive and cumbersome to take with you if you’re travelling.
– Keep your dentist happy by flossing daily, whichever method you prefer.
“Flossing is essential so whatever type of floss will make you more likely to floss is the type of floss for you.”
Read the full story here: https://yourdentalhealthresource.com/water-floss/
Am I Suitable For a Dental Crown?
Dental crowns are fitted to the top of teeth for a variety of reasons:
– Crowns can correct a misaligned bite, repair damaged teeth, protect a root canal filling and are also used on dental implants and bridges fitted to replace missing teeth.
– Crowns can be fitted for cosmetic reasons such as disguising discolouration or yellow teeth.
– Your dentist will discuss whether a dental crown is right for you.
“Dental crowns ?l?? serve ?? ?n alternative t? pulling th? loose, chipped ?r cracked tooth ?r replacing ?t w?th a prosthetic tooth.”
Read the full story here: http://fooyoh.com/fitness_health/15343681/benefits-risks-and-candidacy-of-dental-crowns
Did You Know Dental Implants Can Prevent Further Tooth Loss?
Dental implants are a permanent solution for missing teeth, improving the appearance and function of your smile:
– A dental implant comprises a small screw that is fixed into the jaw and topped with a dental crown.
– Dental implants prevent bone loss, improving the integrity of the jaw and reducing the risk of further tooth loss.
– Your dentist will be happy to discuss the dental implant procedure in more details with you.
“You don’t have to live with missing teeth. Dental implants have a 98% success rate and the majority of patients are very satisfied with their restorations.”
Read the full story here: https://yourdentalhealthresource.com/dental-implants/