Here’s how your hygienist develops a personalized dental hygiene plan of care based on your unique needs:
Assessment
- Reviewing or updating your medical and dental history
- Examining your teeth for decay, visually and with x-rays as needed
- Examining your gum tissue and recording baseline results for your future care needs
- Assessing your biting, chewing, and swallowing patterns
- Evaluating your dental readiness for procedures including cosmetic smile enhancements
- Reassessing your overall treatment.
Prevention
- Screening for oral cancer with clinical measurements, radiographs, and other assessment methods
- Applying fluoride and pit and fissure sealants as indicated by your needs
- Cleaning and scaling teeth to remove plaque, tartar, and surface stains.
- Education Instruction about brushing and flossing
- Counseling about diet and its relationship to oral health
- Explaining dental treatments, orthodontics, periodontal therapy, and cosmetic procedures using a range of visual aids.
