It is very likely that any visit to the dentist today, will also involve a visit to the dental hygienist. This is a fairly new system of treatment that is being employed, but one that can greatly improve its quality. Dental hygienists use treatments called scaling and polishing to professionally clean teeth. These processes remove excess plaque and tartar that cannot be removed by conventional brushing.
However, dental hygienists are about more than just teeth cleaning. They are sources of advice on how best to avoid dental decay and the most effective methods of keeping plaque at bay. They can demonstrate to the patient the best ways of brushing and flossing and recommend products that will be particularly suitable to the patients teeth. Also, by working in unison with your dentist, they can produce a dental hygiene plan that can help to reduce any future risk of dental complications.
Professionally qualified specialists, dental hygienists are becoming more and more common in dental practices. They are usually available to be booked by the hour, often immediately following a check up with the dentist so they can act on any advice. And because they are not subjected to the same caseload as the dentists they can often spend more time with individual patients.
In recent years, dental hygienists have also received further training in taking x-rays, which has allowed them further input into possible treatments. They can also suggest action for more minor dental problems such as fluorosis. All of this has meant that waiting times have been reduced for all patients. Hygienists are also in the front line of smoking cessation and will be fully trained to help you quit. As smoking can be very bad for teeth and associated with all sorts of oral health conditions, a dental hygienist is perfectly placed to offer you advice.
The dental hygienist is a valuable new ally in the fight against tooth decay and gum disease. They can help to keep teeth clean and healthy, and by working with the dentist can solve any oral health problems that may arise. When booking your next appointment at a City of Leeds dentist, ask about the availability of the dental hygienist.
Having a perfect smile and healthy looking teeth, like so many things in life, is all about balance. The balance between the size of the teeth in relation to the others, the balance of the distance between the teeth, the balance of the colour of the teeth. This balance can be effected by having gums that are too visible. Just as a beautiful painting can be ruined by an ugly frame, healthy looking, well-proportioned teeth can be spoiled by an excess of gum tissue. This excess gingival display is also known as a 
Everyone wants to have fresh breath, but the chances are that all of us, at one time or another, has suffered form 
Dental 
It can be very embarrassing for people who have lost some or all of their teeth but there is a solution. A denture, or partial denture, is a set of artificial teeth that fit around the gums giving the appearance of a full and healthy set. There are many reasons why people have lost their teeth. Tooth decay and gum disease are usually the main cause, but other patients lose teeth in car accidents and other incidents that involve head trauma.
In the UK, 93 per cent of people admit to having a fear of the dentist. For the most part they are able to overcome those fears as they know how important a check up is to their dental health. However, for nearly 30 per cent of patients, the fear of the dentist is far more serious and they avoid dental visits completely. This ‘dental phobia’ prevents these patients from receiving the dental care they need, putting them at risk of sacrificing their oral well being.
Smiling is one of the most important communication methods we have. More important than any other physical or verbal gesture in making others feel comfortable and welcome. It is also fundamental in forming romantic, platonic and professional relationships. For people who are ashamed of their teeth smiling can be repressed for fear of being embarrassed. Everyone dreams of having the perfect beaming smile with straight white teeth and for those who fall short of this ideal it can be a source of great anxiety.
Dental emergencies can be extremely worrying and painful. If you have knocked out a tooth, have a severe toothache or an abscess; you may need to see a dentist as soon as possible. Knocked out teeth can be particularly important, as fast action to replace the tooth may be able to save it. Similarly, severe toothache or abscesses can lead to nasty infections that affect your other teeth and general health as a whole. Anyone who has suffered from a severe toothache will attest that it definitely counts as a dental emergency.
All dentists have a keen interest in sports. Not necessarily because they enjoy them but because so many of their patients damage their teeth while playing them. Knocked out, cracked and chipped tooth have been the result of sporting injuries as long as there have been sporting injuries and all dentists are very familiar with the prop forward, or opening batsman coming into surgery clutching a knocked out tooth.