What does a hygienist do?

[Chocolateandabook2019]

I desperately need to book an appointment to see the hygienist, but I don’t know exactly what they do.

I’ve never seen one before (I know..😯), but I’ve kept putting it off until now, as my teeth look a desperate state, and my dentist has mentioned a build up of plaque.
MTIA.

*look in a desperate state.

They do a bit of scraping, clean with a water jet and polish with a brush.

It doesn't take long and I really like it.

Do you have gum inflammation?

Bit of a tip, take some paracetamol before the appointment because when I went for the first time it was excruciating. I've got receeding gums from brushing too hard.

Mine looks at my teeth then scrapes and water jets them individually. Removes any staining and then polishes them with a brush and paste

They give them a good clean :D

They have a little metal thing that scrapes the plaque off
A squirty thing that jet washes them (at least I think that's what it is)
Maybe a bit of flossing

It's not my favourite thing in the world but not too bad at all :}

Once they are done and super clean it's a good incentive to clean them better so next visit is less to clean off!

Don't worry :)

Your job is to open your gob it's not more complicated than that they will look after you.

@Waddsup12 like it?! mine is like some kind of sadist
My teeth are quite sensitive though and the noise goes through me

Go to a different hygienist then.

Don't forget OP is nervous about going.

My lady is lovely!

I also don't have any gum inflammation, which is when I think it can get more sensitive.

Ours uses a fine water jet to clean between teeth and along gumline , aided by a scraper and fine pointy thing. Then a polish . You can have a local anaesthetic paste if gums are sensitive or inflamed and under the gumline needs attention.

Well, ok, I had an idea that they give them a good clean 😬.

I think the suggestion of taking paracetamol beforehand is a good one, thanks @TroysMammy.

@Waddsup 12, my dentist says build up of plaque at the back of my bottom teeth, nothing about my gums being inflamed,

I have been using the interdental sticks to clean in between, and Corsodyl daily.

I’ll ring them up tomorrow and make an appointment.

I’ve not met the hygienist (yet), but if she/he is as nice and understanding as my dentist, I should be ok.
Thank you all xx

I get that too. Yeah, it's a clean, scale and polish so really a good cleaning. Mine stain too, so benefit from going as plaque builds up on staining, apparently.

My dentist says not to use Corsodyl, as it stains. The interdental brushes are good.

mine sand polished with a jetwasher thingy and also uses a sort of sandpaper for between teeth.
whole thing takes half an hour.
if any issues, like bleeding gums, they refer to dentist for check up.

I love it
It has never hurt at all
Metal thing I think to remove plaque, then water and more water and then some polishing

I was advised not to use Corsodyl long term. The hygienist will ask what you use and advise you.

Mine starts off by X-ray of teeth, measuring gum recession individually, scraping off plaque, flossing, polishing and finishing with flouride paste. Dentist then reviews X-ray results, examines each tooth and does mouth cancer check, then sends me off with bag of dental goodies. You'll find there may be some bleeding in your first visit if you haven't been for a while, but once you start flossing every day and have twice yearly cleanings you will have much better gum and dental health. Each visit takes an hour (this in the US, but I imagine it's similar in UK)

There's a thread in AMA by one. 

Dentist does xrays and 6 monthly check up in UK. Hygienist is a visual check, clean and preventative treatment. My appointments are 20 minutes long every 3 months.

I was very regular with my dental check ups but not so much with the hygienist as she was snappy in manner and heavy handed with the tools - I have no idea why she chose that job since she seemed to loathe it and her patients.

The new one has a sweet, mellifluous voice, employs a brigade of highly trained butterflies to do the scale and polish ( great result as well) and just generally makes the appointment feel like a treat, rather than a duty.

The hygienist should also check your brushing and flossing technique and suggest improvements, if necessary.

I didn’t know that Corsodyl stained your teeth, thanks for that @Lizs and @Waddsup 😲.
I’ll ask for an alternative then.

@LightFire, what and whereabouts is the AMA thread, please ?

I used to go to a private dentist and the hygienist was an extra cost. Presumably it's a lower qualified member of staff but they still charge a hefty amount. I now go to an NHS dentist who does it all.

On a related note, has anyone tried using a Flosser like this?
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01N34KSKC

I have one. It's a faff.

I asked the hygienist about it and she said normal flossing and interdental brushes are better.