What to Expect During a Dental Hygiene Visit
On your first visit, the dental hygienist will review your personal and family dental history. X-rays are an essential source of information, as they reveal the condition of the alveolar bone, the jaw area where teeth are anchored. Bone loss in this area may indicate periodontitis. Every dental hygiene visit includes a comprehensive examination, both intraoral and extraoral. The hygienist assesses external factors like asymmetry, swelling, and lymph nodes, as well as the condition of hard and soft tissues within the mouth.
Your hygienist will establish your hygiene index, which helps plan ongoing treatment, motivation, and control. The PBI (Papillary Bleeding Index) score is used to assess the degree of inflammation around each tooth. Clients who maintain a low PBI score are eligible for extended guarantees from our clinic.
We recommend bringing your current dental care products, such as your toothbrush and interdental brushes, to your appointment. The hygienist will evaluate these tools and provide demonstrations or recommendations for any improvements if needed.
During a routine visit, your hygienist will remove tartar, plaque, and stains. At our clinic, we use air-flow technology, which gently sprays water with a fine powder to remove pigment spots, plaque, and tartar from tooth surfaces and grooves. This method is gentle on enamel, leaving teeth naturally smooth and shiny. To strengthen your teeth, a fluoride gel is often applied after treatment.
For tartar that accumulates below the gumline, we use deep scaling techniques with precision metal tools to clean the roots’ surfaces. This deep cleaning is done under local anesthesia for maximum comfort. For clients with periodontitis, we also offer non-invasive root cleaning with the VECTOR® device, which allows for targeted treatment of the root surface.
