Treatment with the Dental Hygienist for Gum Disease
At your first visit, oral hygiene will be discussed and root planing will be started. Root planing is a finer type of scaling that involves removing bacterial deposits and smoothing the root surface below the gum where the gum disease is progressing. A surface anaesthetic cream is usually applied to reduce any discomfort but local anaesthetic (as with a filling) is also available. It would be helpful for you to bring with you any toothbrush or cleaning aids (except water jet devices) that you are using to your first appointment.
The visits for root planing are 45 minutes long. Your oral hygiene will be reviewed each time you attend and appropriate advice given. There will be a number of these visits usually with 1-2 week breaks in between until all the deposits are removed and you are maintaining a good standard of oral hygiene. Thereafter you will be seen by Dr Sidi to review your progress and further treatment prescribed.
