Hate going to dental hygienist

[ScaredyCatherine]

I'm due a visit to the dental hygienist and I'm dreading it.

My teeth are clean and healthy - I always get compliments from the hygienist saying they're great etc. But I just hate the whole cleaning process. I'm really beginning to dread it. I know I can stay stop at any time etc etc, but when I'm in there I just want it over with ASAP.

I don't mind the dentist at all, it's just the scale and polish bit and even worse the airflow thing. Yuk.

I know I have to go, but wibu to reduce my visits to once a year maybe?

I used to go to one that was really rough, only managed a couple of visits before I found a different one. The new one is definitely better, it doesn't hurt, just a pretty unpleasant experience. Unfortunately, I have to go every three months 😩

I'd find a different one if I were you.

abigxforyou - my hygienist said they use sealed units of sterile water and can't add anything to it to moderate the temperature. I suggested they sit their pod of sterile water in a bath of warm water to take the edge off, apparently that Is Not An Option and I should basically get on with it. I like the sound of the system you mentioned though, sounds much more . . .humane if that doesn't sound too dramatic.

Several people have mentioned a manual clean - I've not heard of this but am intrigued. my SIL has a powder clean at her hygienist that I also hadn't heard of.

It sounds like there are more options available than my hygienist is telling me. Why can't there be a menu of options for those of us that are more sensitive of tooth?

@OccultGnuNew At my dentist they use the powder but it is mixed with the water and my dentist uses that cold water thing too which is why I asked this random dentist at a party I was at.

The powder is like being sandblasted and you come away with a fine powder on your cheeks. Mine do sonic clean with the sandblaster then move onto a manual clean at the end for any last bits. My numbers are 1s and 2s, 2s all on the bottom as that is where the saliva sits anyway. I have low enamel on my teeth, they have always been like that, nothing I did. So I have sensitive teeth.

However, after lockdown restrictions were lifted they would only do a manual clean and they all loved it is as that is how they start their learning journey. It reminded them of how far they had come. See if they will let you have a manual clean only. I don't think you should have to suck anything up when it is unpleasant. You could shop around for dentists too, you don't have to give your business to the one you are at. It is literally every 6 months so you could travel a bit further afield.

I like my dentist but not the hygienist. But I have found out this week that I can attend a different surgery for a hygienist appointment. And there's one handy nearby that only charges £55 so guess where I'm heading 😁

Brilliant, hope it works out for you.

I hate the hygienist too, she is lovely but the machine tool round the gums is awful. I started taking 2 painkiller tables about half an hour before session and it seems to take most of the edge off the pain. I have just had the cataracts done in both eyes and found the whole process easier and no pain than the hygienist.

Same, I also pay £60 for the privilege of a mediocre clean and to be told off for drinking coffee. Never mind that I'm almost forty and haven't had a single filling so I must be doing something right. Nope, it's teeth shaming all the way because they're stained. Yeah that's why I'm here!

Our hygienist is lovely. She knows I have a dental phobia and turns down the power on the cold water machine. Helps with cutting sensitivity reactions.

But I have very little plaque to shift.

The good side of having a dentist phobia is that you take really good care of your teeth!

Manual is basically scrape and polish so no water
my teeth are very clean, and a couple of years ago she tried the water, I jumped in pain and she said “want me to do it by hand?” She said it’s nice to keep up with the skill as she doesn’t get to do it much either
the assistant was “HAND tools?! You want hand ones?!”

Another vote for asking for them to do it manually. They had to do this through covid and I found it much more manageable so asked my hygienist to continue doing it that way. I got every 6 months, I don't live it but I'd rather that than any invasive dental treatment.

I really do get a bit irritated by my visits, although I enjoy the resulting squeaky clean teeth. About once a year is the limit of my tolerance level, though.

I'm 46, my dental health is pretty good, but no, I'm not going to stop drinking coffee or red wine: I know they stain my teeth, but isn't that why I'm here?! I floss when I remember, replace the heads on my toothbrush on a reasonably regular schedule and try my best not to chew rocks: that's my side of the deal.

I would really appreciate it if dental hygienists would just cut the patronising bullshit and got on with the scrubby stuff.

Are there any dental hygienists on here who would do an AMA and maybe help us to understand why it's such a PITA for so many of us?

The problem is most people have some form of gum disease and it’s the number one reason for tooth loss in the U.K.

The U.K. is the number one place in the world for people to sue dentists/hygienists/therapists and gum disease is the number one reason to be sued. As a consequence of this, unfortunately , each and every time you visit the hygienist has to tell you about cleaning, flossing , diet etc and document it, otherwise it is seen as negligence.

The water used in scaling has to go through tiny tubes so has to be treated with chemicals to stop a biofilm forming (gunk) and has to be cold as warm water encourages biofilm build up.

ultrasonic cleaning (the buzzy) instrument is the most efficient and thorough way of removing tartar (calculus) . Hand scaling is second best and also is a cause of arthritis for the hygienist . It does not do as good a job.

Airflow is powder cleaning, this will not remove tartar , it only removes stain. It is normally done after scaling. Using sylc powder can also help with sensitivity.

Scaling can be sensitive if your gums are inflammed or if your gums have shrunk exposing the roots . The hygienist can inject your mouth to make it more comfortable , they can use a gel , which will help some people. To help yourself get gums as healthy as possible, rub a sensitive toothpaste into the roots last thing at night and leave on and take , if you can , ibuprofen an hour before appointment.

Hygienists do not make your gums bleed but if your gums are inflammed ie your cleaning is not effective , a hygienist visit and , indeed, improved oral care will make inflammed gums bleed . Once the inflammation has settled ie if you clean well , the bleeding will settle.

If you clean effectively you will never need a hygiene visit . I have had patients in their 90s who have never needed a hygiene visit.

However if you do not clean effectively 24 hours after you’ve seen the hygienist the tartar starts to come back and your gums never get healthy. So some people need very,very regular visits , not least those with dexterity problems etc .

Some people like to visit to keep stains down , which is not a health problem but makes teeth look better.

Gum disease is associated with many health problems from heart disease , diabetes, miscarriages , etc since gum disease is an inflammatory condition . Our understanding is that healthy gums are an integral part of a healthy body.

That's really interesting - thank you. I think I'm quite lucky with my teeth.

The last time I went to the hygienist, she said it looked as if I'd just been to the hygienist before.

Since I hate the whole thing, maybe I'm putting myself through this for nothing!

I can remember a dentist telling me that my teeth should be my "priority" when I skipped a checkup due to finances. I asked him if that was before my kids, mortgage, two jobs, elderly parents and pension savings?

Healthy teeth doesn't equal healthy gums.

Plaque builds up and gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss, by the time you get issues it is usually too late.

I went today. First time in 18 months. I hate it, but in reality it was fine.

The thing I have learned helps me is to remember the words of a song (ideally one without long instrumental bits) and sing it in my head. If their radio is too loud, I'll even ask them to turn it off so it doesn't distract my head music

I honestly wish I had changed dentists years ago to one with a hygienist. I had bleeding gums and my previous NHS dentist used to do a cursory scale and polish and tell me everything was fine and some people's gums just bled.
Changed dentists and pay for a dental plan -and almost cried at first visit and he told me I had severe gum disease despite brushing as I thought I should and x2 a year appointments.
The hygienist is lovely and between her and new dentist my gums never bleed and my mouth is transformed. It's not my favourite appointment to go to but so worth it.She has been lovely and supportive and now it no longer feels uncomfortable so big thumbs up from me to all the good hygienist out there.