Dental Hygienist
Your Dental Hygienist is a dental health care professional, specifically trained in the prevention and treatment of gum diseases such as gingivitis and periodontitis. We are extremely proud to be able to offer the full-time services of two experienced Dental Hygienists – Kim Carroll, Chandra Setiawan and Kimberley Tomkins. Kim, Chandra and Kimberley look forward to implementing a customised periodontal care program to ensure your optimal oral health.
An appointment with your Dental Hygienist may include any of the following:
- medical history review
- temporomandibular joint (tmj) assessment
- oral cancer screening
- blood pressure screening
- periodontal assessment & charting
- dental radiographs
- removal of plaque and calculus (tartar) from the teeth, including root planing
- education in effective home care techniques to maintain healthy teeth and gums
- dietary analysis & advice on nutrition and its relationship to dental health
- application of fluoride and desensitising agents
- fissure sealants
- tooth whitening
- saliva pH testing
- dental impressions
What is Periodontal Disease?
Periodontal disease is progressive, accummulative and irreversible. Even if it doesn't hurt, untreated gum disease will eventually result in tooth loss.
Periodontal disease can go on for years without pain and without detection unless specific examination procedures are performed. Visual oral examination by itself (even by a dentist) will not reliably detect periodontal disease until it has reached an advanced stage.
Early detection and adequate diagnosis requires measurement of pockets (the crevice between the tooth and gum) with a periodontal probe. Effective prevention and treatment is available, but the damage caused as the disease progresses is irreversible.
Early detection and treatment is critical to prevent tooth loss. Although the procedure is simple, painless and requires only a few minutes, millions of Australians have never had it done.
The main cause of periodontal disease is plaque, but other factors include smoking, genetics, puberty, pregnancy, menopause, stress, medications, clenching/grinding teeth, diabetes, poor nutrition, obesity and other systemic diseases.
Some signs of periodontal disease may include bleeding gums, redness of gum tissue, swelling of gums around the teeth, breath odour, receeding gums and mobility of teeth.
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