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All our patients are treated as individuals and
have different oral health needs, therefore, the hygienist
customises treatment plans for your specific needs.
From how to clean your teeth to your dietary intake,
hygiene is of the utmost importance to help prevent
problems rather than treating them many years
later.
Depending on the health of your teeth and gums,
you may need to visit the hygienist every three,
six or twelve months.
Oral hygiene visits can help prevent many of
the problems that lead to tooth decay and loss,
and is important in the early diagnosis
and treatment of gum disease.
On visiting the dentist and hygienist, the first
stage of your consultation will be diagnostic.
We take special care to make sure the correct,
individual diagnosis is made. You will see that
it is not just your teeth and mouth that are being
assessed but the medical health of your whole
body.
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stage involves: |
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assessing
your periodontal (gum) tissue |
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evaluating
existing dental restorations for proper fit,
function and aesthetics |
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checking
your bite, chewing and swallowing patterns |
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reviewing
and updating your medical history |
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evaluating
possible cosmetic enhancements of your smile |
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identifying
any cause of bad breath (halitosis) |
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examining
and screening for oral cancer |
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referring
you to specialists for specific treatment |
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developing
a comprehensive treatment plan |
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The next stage is prevention.
the hygienist and St Leonards Holistic Dental Care want
to make sure that they can prevent any problems
immediately, rather than having to treat them
at a later stage. By understanding your overall
medical health, this makes the diagnosis and prevention
stages much easier to understand.
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this stage, the hygienist will focus on: |
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cleaning
and scaling teeth to remove all plaque and
calculus (tartar) |
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removing
surface stains from the teeth |
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apply pit
and fissure sealants to help prevent decay
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polish teeth |
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saliva testing
to assess your risk of gum disease and decay |
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The final stage of your appointment
with the hygienist is educational.
St Leonards Holistic Dental Care want to make
sure that you understand what they are doing to
your teeth and gums, how it will affect you and
your body and most importantly, how to maintain
good oral health between visits.
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includes: |
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instruction
in tooth brushing and flossing |
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counselling
in proper nutrition |
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presentation
of prescribed dental treatment |
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recommending
future treatment (orthodontics, periodontal
therapy, etc) |
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Gums are certainly not the first things that you think
about when considering dentistry yet healthy gums are
needed for a healthy smile!
Healthy gums need to be maintained to keep your teeth
well positioned and stable. Gum disease can begin with
no apparent reason and can remain unnoticed for a considerable
amount of time. Occasional bleeding and soreness may
be only symptoms you get of gum disease that can lead
to the receding gums and loose teeth.Recent research
has established links between gum disease, heart disease,
respiratory problems and premature births. Uncontrolled
gum disease can also destablise treatment for diabetes.
Good healthy gums can help to maintain a balance in
all these medical conditions.
Contact St Leonards
Holistic Dental Care for a gum health check
up and learn what you should be doing to keep your gums
healthy!
click here to book an appointment
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