Question 1

What happens during a hygiene appointment?

Accepted Answer

Assessment of your gums.

We check the gum margins for inflammation, bleeding and recession, and where indicated we measure the depth of the space between gum and tooth. These readings are recorded so changes can be tracked over time, which tells us far more than a single visit ever could.

Scaling.

Removal of hardened deposits from the tooth surfaces, above and just below the gum line. Ultrasonic instruments do most of the work, with hand instruments for detail.

Polishing.

Smoothing the tooth surfaces afterwards, which removes residual surface staining and makes it harder for plaque to re-establish.

Fluoride application

where it is likely to benefit you.

Specific advice.

Not a generic brushing lecture. If one particular area keeps building up deposits or bleeding, we will look at why and work out what would actually help there, whether that is a different brush angle, an interdental brush of the right size, or a change to how you use floss.

Question 2

Will it hurt?

Accepted Answer

Most people find a routine clean straightforward, particularly when they attend regularly.

It is less comfortable when there is a lot to remove, or when the gums are already inflamed, because inflamed tissue is tender and bleeds readily. This is one of the reasons long gaps between appointments compound. The longer you leave it, the less pleasant the catch-up visit.

Tell us if you are sensitive. Topical numbing gel or local anaesthetic can be used, and we can work in shorter sections. Nobody needs to grit their teeth through a clean.

Question 3

How often?

Accepted Answer

Six monthly suits most people. It is not a universal answer.

More frequent visits, often every three or four months, are commonly recommended for patients with a history of gum disease, those who build calculus quickly, smokers, people with diabetes, patients with dry mouth from medication, and those wearing orthodontic appliances.

Less frequent visits are sometimes reasonable for patients with consistently healthy gums and thorough home care.

We will suggest an interval based on your readings rather than a default, and we will explain the reasoning behind it.

Question 4

Why gum health is worth the appointment?

Accepted Answer

The visible reasons are obvious enough. Fresher breath, a cleaner feeling, less surface staining.

The reason that matters more is that gum disease is largely painless in its early and middle stages. People do not notice it. Bleeding when brushing is the most common early sign, and it is widely dismissed as brushing too hard rather than recognised as inflammation. By the time gum disease causes noticeable symptoms, bone has usually been lost, and lost bone does not grow back.

Regular hygiene appointments catch that trajectory early, when it is still reversible. That is the whole argument.

There is also a growing body of research linking gum disease with cardiovascular disease, diabetes and adverse pregnancy outcomes. The relationships are complex and still being worked out, so we will not overstate them. What is well established is that inflammation in the mouth does not stay confined to the mouth.

Hygiene Treatments in Cronulla