Dental hygienist / therapists are GDC registered dental professionals. They play a vital role in mouth health care, assisting you in maintaining your gum health as well as your teeth.

Dental hygienists offer advice and treatment to maintain your gum health.

A dental hygienist / therapist however, provides not just these essential hygiene services, but will also assess your teeth health, provide fillings and referral to the dentist for more complex treatments like root fillings, veneers and crowns. Therapists can also work under the direction of the dentist to provide tooth whitening services.

There are lots of ways a dental hygienist/therapist can help you:

• give advice on your specific mouth health concerns, such as the best way to clean your teeth

• provide a professional tooth and gum cleaning – we use specially designed techniques to help to ensure your teeth receive a thorough clean in a relaxed and comfortable setting.

• provide you with a brighter smile. Staining caused by certain foods and drinks are usually on the surface of your teeth and can be removed with bespoke treatments such as air polishing, leaving your teeth feeling super clean and whiter!

• Do all types of fillings

Prior to treatment, you will be asked to read and sign our consent form to confirm that you understand the scope of practice and treatment being offered by our dental hygienist / therapist.

No, not at all. Under direct access, you can book a hygienist appointment with us without any referral or prior examination. Simply contact us and schedule your cleaning – new patients are welcome. If our hygienist finds any issue that needs a dentist’s attention, they will let you know and help arrange further care. But there’s no requirement to see a dentist first. This makes it quick and easy to get a professional teeth cleaning whenever you want one.

For most people, a hygiene visit every six months is ideal to maintain healthy teeth and gums. Visiting twice a year helps keep plaque and tartar build-up under control and allows us to monitor your oral health regularly. However, the right interval can vary based on your individual needs. If you are prone to gum issues or have a history of periodontal disease, we might recommend a cleaning every 3-4 months to stay on top of it. Likewise, if your oral health is excellent, an annual visit might suffice (though we generally still suggest six-monthly to be safe). Our hygienist will advise you on the best recall schedule for your situation. Remember, regular preventive care is far easier and cheaper than treating problems that go unchecked for too long!

Our hygiene treatments are designed to be gentle and comfortable. Most patients find a routine scale and polish to be easy – you might feel some mild scraping or vibration, but it shouldn’t be painful. If you do have very sensitive teeth or inflamed gums, you might experience slight discomfort in areas of heavy build-up, but we take many measures to keep you at ease. We can apply a numbing gel to your gums beforehand to dull sensation, use warm water in our scaler to avoid cold sensitivity, or simply go slowly and check in with you frequently. Your comfort is a top priority. After a cleaning, it’s normal for your teeth to feel extra smooth and your gums to feel firmer. Occasionally, if a lot of tartar was removed from below the gums, you may have mild gum tenderness for a day or two – but this is temporary and a sign that your gums are getting healthier. We’ll provide post-care tips (like rinsing with saltwater or using a sensitive toothpaste) if needed. Most people leave saying, “That felt easier than I expected!” So please don’t let fear of pain stop you from getting the dental care you need.

A professional cleaning will certainly make your teeth look cleaner, smoother, and often a bit whiter by removing external stains and plaque. The polishing step can take off yellowish surface stains, restoring your teeth’s natural color. Many patients are pleasantly surprised that their smile is brighter after a scale and polish or AirFlow treatment – sometimes it even looks like they’ve had a whitening session! However, it’s important to note that hygiene cleaning does not chemically change the color of your teeth like bleaching does. If your teeth are discolored internally or you want a dramatically whiter shade, you may consider a whitening treatment (which we also offer at our Didsbury clinic). Think of cleaning as detailing a car – we’re removing all the dirt and making what you have shine. Often that’s enough to significantly boost your smile’s appearance. And if you decide you want to go further with whitening, having clean teeth is the perfect first step before any whitening procedure, since it allows for more even results.

Dental hygienists are the front-line providers for treating and managing gum disease. Yes, our hygienist can treat gum disease, particularly the milder and moderate forms. Through deep cleanings (scaling and root planing) and tailored periodontal maintenance visits, we address gum infection and help your tissue heal. In our practice, our hygienist is also a certified dental therapist, which means they have extended skills and can work closely with the dentist to manage your care. For example, if during your direct access visit we diagnose moderate gum disease, our hygienist/therapist can perform the necessary deep cleaning over a couple of sessions. We would then see you more frequently to keep your gums healthy. If you have very severe periodontitis with advanced bone loss, we might refer you to our dentist or a specialist periodontist for evaluation, as sometimes additional interventions (like gum surgery or antibiotics) could be needed. But in most cases of gum disease, the hygienist’s treatment is the appropriate and effective solution. We will always ensure you get the level of care you need – if that means involving the dentist, we will do so. Rest assured, when you come in for a hygiene appointment, you’re in capable hands to both prevent and treat gum issues.

A dental hygienist (or hygienist-therapist) focuses on preventive care – cleaning teeth, educating patients on oral hygiene, and treating gum health issues. A dentist handles a broader range of diagnoses and treatments, such as checking for cavities, filling teeth, performing restorative work like crowns or extractions, etc. In a traditional check-up, the dentist would examine your mouth for any problems and might do a little polishing, but dentists typically don’t perform the thorough cleaning that a hygienist does. In our Direct Access Hygienist Appointment, you actually get the best of both worlds in one visit: our hygienist/therapist will perform a full cleaning and do a basic dental check (including x-rays) to ensure your teeth are in good shape. They can even do some dentist-type procedures like fillings or fluoride treatments if needed, thanks to their dual qualification as a therapist. However, if any complex issue arises (for example, you need a root canal or a large filling), a dentist would step in to provide that treatment at a separate appointment. Think of the hygienist as the preventive specialist keeping your mouth healthy day-to-day, and the dentist as the diagnostic and treatment specialist for more involved issues. Both work hand-in-hand. At The Dentists of Didsbury, our team communicates closely – if our hygienist finds something, the dentist is consulted, and vice versa – so you receive seamless care. But for the purpose of a cleaning visit, you can see the hygienist directly and know that your oral health is being thoroughly looked after, including elements that a dentist would usually check.

Booking your hygiene visit is easy! You can call our Didsbury clinic at 0161 445 4005, send us a message online, or simply click the “Book Now” button on our website to find an appointment slot that suits you. We offer flexible scheduling, including late afternoons and some Saturdays, to accommodate our patients’ busy lives. As for cost, our standard direct access hygiene appointment (30 minutes, including exam and x-rays) is competitively priced. We pride ourselves on offering excellent value for high-quality care. New patients can take advantage of our introductory offer of £70 for the first session (a £25 discount off the usual fee of £95). This fee covers the full professional cleaning, gum health assessment, any necessary advice, and routine x-rays – there are no hidden charges. If additional treatment is required (for example, if you need a longer deep cleaning or decide to add AirFlow polishing), we will always inform you of any costs beforehand. We also have convenient dental care plans (Smile Plans) that include hygiene visits as part of a monthly package, which can save you money if you’re interested in our membership. For full details, please check our Prices page or ask our reception team. Investing in regular dental hygiene is one of the best investments you can make in your health – and we strive to keep it accessible and affordable.

Visiting a dental hygienist plays a vital role in maintaining long-term oral health. Here at The Dentists of Didsbury, our hygiene appointments offer:

• Professional plaque and tartar removal to prevent gum disease and tooth decay.

• Fresher breath by cleaning areas your toothbrush can’t reach.

• Healthier gums through deep cleaning and personalised care.

• Early detection of oral problems before they become more serious.

• Tailored advice on brushing, flossing, and diet – to maintain a healthy smile.

• Whiter, brighter teeth by removing surface stains safely.

• Personalized Oral Hygiene Advice, Hygienists can provide tailored advice on brushing and flossing techniques, as well as recommendations for oral hygiene products.

• Gum Disease Prevention, Early detection and treatment of gum disease (gingivitis and periodontitis) are crucial. Hygienists can identify signs of gum disease and provide guidance on preventing its progression.

AIR-FLOW therapy is a professional dental cleaning treatment that uses a gentle stream of air, warm water, and fine powder to remove plaque, stains, and biofilm from teeth, gums, and hard to reach areas. It’s quick, comfortable, and highly effective especially for patients with sensitive teeth or braces.

The treatment not only enhances the appearance of your smile but also supports healthier gums and fresher breath.