One of the easiest and best ways to maintain the health of your teeth and gums is to keep them plaque free with regular visits to a dental hygienist.
Plaque buildup is a leading cause of decay and gum inflammation (gingivitis) and when it goes unchecked it can also be the source of enamel staining, unpleasant smells and bleeding of the gums. If fact, 90% of adults will experience gum disease at least once in their lifetime. And if you have restorations such as crowns, veneers, fillings, dentures or implants seeing a dental hygienist for regular treatment is even more essential.
Our dental hygienists are trained to the highest standards and, along with giving your teeth and gums a refreshing and thorough cleaning, they will also take the time to show you how to lower your risk of gum disease with a simple home maintenance program. Your specifically designed program may include the use of special brushes, floss and techniques to maintain any previous restoration work.
Your hygienist can also perform a more extensive range of services such as advanced surgical procedures including tissue grafting to rebuild damaged bones.
Speak to your dentist about the importance of regular hygiene appointments.
I hadn’t been to the dentist for years but the hygienist at Monkstown Dental was fantastic and didn’t judge me. They were just happy to see me!
Untreated gum disease creates strong acids that can destroy the fibres attached to the teeth causing ‘pockets’. Because these pockets are extremely difficult to keep clean the buildup of acids may cause the following:
Bleeding, swollen, spongy painful gums
Shrinkage of gum down the tooth
Loss of bone supporting the tooth
Foul taste in the mouth
Bad breath
Repeated abscesses
Loose, moving teeth and/or ‘gappy’ splayed appearance of front teeth
Tooth loss
During your first visit with us your hygienist will make an extensive evaluation of your gums to detect any disease or problem areas. They will then remove harmful plaque and bacteria with state of the art hand-held ultrasonic scalers before flossing and polishing your teeth.
Finally, your hygienist will spend some time discussing the appropriate cleaning aids and good oral hygiene techniques you can use at home to maintain your gum health between visits.
Depending on your current gum health this may require more than one visit.
How often you need to visit the hygienist will depend on your oral health and the effectiveness of your current maintenance program. In short, everyone’s dental health is different. Your dentist will be happy to advise you.
As the saying goes, “Prevention is better than cure” and it holds especially true for dental health. Knowing the best way to protect their teeth will help your children reduce the amount of treatments they will need during their lifetime.
We’ll clear up common misconceptions about sugary snacks and drinks and offer healthier alternatives.
Using fluoride drop from the age of 6 months can strengthen your child’s developing adult teeth and make them more resistant to decay.
We can apply a special coating to adult molars when they first appear to help prevent future decay.
Our team will show your child the best way to brush their teeth and how to use timers and special dye tablets to show plaque and improve technique.
Although regular visits to you dentist are essential to maintaining a beautiful smile and excellent dental health, preventative care can mean the difference between a routine exam and a complicated and intrusive treatment.
To help keep your teeth and gums healthy we can advise you on the following proven preventative treatments:
Diet Advice
We’ll clear up common misconceptions about sugary snacks and drinks and offer healthier alternatives.
Fluoride Supplements
By using fluoride drop from the age of 6 months can strengthen your child’s developing adult teeth and make them more resistant to decay.
Tooth Brushing Instructions
Our team will show your child the best way to brush their teeth and how to use timers and special dye tablets to show plaque and improve technique.
Fissure Sealants
We can apply a special coating to adult molars when they first appear to help prevent future decay.Fissure Sealants- these are coatings applied to adult molars when they first erupt to prevent decay in the future.
Oral Hygiene Instruction
To help prevent decay and gum disease we’ll cover the basics of efficient tooth-brushing combined with mouthwashes, floss and/or tepe brushes.
Diet Advice
We’ll clear up common misconceptions about sugary snacks and drinks and offer healthier alternatives.
Toothwear
There are different steps which can be taken to reduce different types of toothwear, for example acrylic biteguards can help reduce toothwear for patients who grind their teeth. We’ll take the time to find the treatment best suited for you.
Smoking Cessation
Quitting smoking is an effective way of reducing your risk- or progression- of gum disease. Our dentists will take the time to discuss the different methods available to help you quit for good.
From web based contact forms to billing and automated reminders via email and text, we’ve created a smooth and friendly computerised system that suits the fast pace of modern living.
By using computer aided technology we give you a much faster x-ray service whilst also reducing the level of radiation exposure. We will show you your x-rays quickly on a computer screen which allows us to give you a clearer and more in-depth explanation of your treatment.
Your safety and protection from infection are our top priorities. We use disposable instruments whenever feasible and use only top-of-the-line procedures and the most up-to-date technology to ensure sterilisation on any reusable equipment. Each member of our staff is also trained and regularly updated in cross infection control guidelines.
ProTaper Rotary Endodontic Files are the latest technology used in the treatment of infected root canals. They allow for easier navigation of mal-shaped canals for a more efficient and thorough root canal in less time.
Monkstown Dental
105 Monkstown Road,
Newtownabbey,
Co.Antrim,
Northern Ireland
BT37 0LG
