Why do I need to see a dental hygienist? I already see my dentist.

 At Honour Health, dental hygiene appointments are right at the core of our preventative ethos.

It’s definitely important to keep seeing your dentist every six months, as they’ll be able to assess the health of your teeth and carry out any treatments – but it’s so important to make time for dental hygiene appointments too. A dental hygienist is specially trained to professionally clean your teeth and gums and to show you to keep your mouth healthy.

At a dedicated hygiene appointment, a dental hygienist can spend longer with you to thoroughly remove plaque that builds up on your teeth and to explain how you can stop it from returning. The quote ‘prevention is better than cure’ is the perfect description of what a dental hygienist does, because their key role is to help you prevent gum disease or tooth decay.

Each patient needs bespoke advice to suit their own oral hygiene needs. Whether you need a few tips on flossing, a recommendation for the best electric toothbrush to choose, advice on which toothpaste to buy, or an explanation of how interdental brushes work, then your hygienist is on hand to help. They can also talk to you about your diet, so if you’re worried that your food and drink habits might be damaging your teeth, ask your hygienist for advice.

At Honour Health, our hygienist uses a state of the art EMS Airflow hygiene system (see video above) for a professional clean.

What is the EMS Airflow hygiene system?

The EMS Airflow hygiene system is an innovative technique, which uses an advanced machine to fire a powerful jet of water, compressed air and fine powder particles at the teeth to quickly and effectively remove plaque and soft deposits. It’s faster than a traditional scale and polish – and it’s painless. 

The hygiene appointment firstly consists of a thorough hand scale and ultrasonic deep clean to remove all the plaque and tartar build-up in your mouth and to clear any debris from around your teeth and under your gums. This first step is then followed by the Airflow treatment. 

Nothing compares to Airflow for getting rid of plaque, as it’s the only dental hygiene system that cleans sub-gingivally (underneath the gum line) for a really thorough clean, to reveal a brighter, fresher smile. Despite its power to blast away plaque lurking underneath the gums, Airflow is a gentle, comfortable, non-invasive treatment and is ideal for anyone with sensitive teeth. It is also ideal for smokers, periodontal patients, dental implant patients and orthodontic patients. Unlike teeth whitening treatments, Airflow is suitable for those who have veneers, crowns and bridges. 

If you’re a fan of tea, coffee or red wine, then you’ll be pleased to know that Airflow is also hugely effective for removing staining, revealing a brighter smile. No amount of brushing is going to lift staining from these drinks, but an Airflow session will blast those stains away in no time.

After the Airflow treatment, our hygienist will discuss dental hygiene techniques with you and offer mouth hygiene and diet advice to help you maintain that beautifully fresh, clean feeling for as long as possible.

How often should I see a dental hygienist?

We ask our patients to see our dental hygienist at least every six months to maintain clean, healthy teeth and gums. No matter how angelic you are with your oral hygiene routine, there will always be some hard to reach areas that a dental hygienist can clean better than you.

What are the costs involved with seeing a dental hygienist?

A private appointment with our hygienist costs £95, which includes the full Airflow treatment.

We’d really recommend that you join our Honour Health Club, as members receive either two or four free hygiene treatments per year as part of their monthly membership. Find out more about the Honour Health Club here.

If you’re thinking about having your teeth whitened, then book an Airflow treatment before beginning any teeth whitening process, as this will lift staining and help to achieve better results. 

For anyone who is having orthodontic treatment such as Invisalign, then it is especially important to have regular Airflow treatments to thoroughly clean around any attachments, brackets or wires.

In a nutshell, there’s no better hygiene option than a professional Airflow treatment with a dental hygienist. Once you try it, you won’t look back – and your mouth will thank you for it!

Are there any risks?

We aim to provide a high quality service, which will be carried out by our experienced dental Hygienists.  

As with all dental procedures however, there can be small risks associated with treatment. In some rare instances, the ultrasonic scaler can damage existing restorations or chip unsupported / thin enamel. You may also feel wider gaps between your teeth after your hygiene appointment due to removal of plaque / calculus build up. We do our absolute best to prevent any risks, however in the unlikely event that an issue arises, a member of the dental team will be happy to assist.  

We look forward to seeing you at your next dental hygiene appointment.  

Honour Health Jesmond – Hygiene Appointment Policy for Short Notice Cancellations and Failed Appointments.

Due to rising numbers of missed appointments, and short notice cancellations, we have made the decision to introduce a cancellation policy.

As a courtesy, we usually contact our patients via email 48 hours before to confirm the date and time of the appointment.

Please notify us with as much notice as possible if you are unable to make your appointment.

You will be required to pay a £45 deposit at the time of booking to secure your hygiene appointment. We are happy to move or cancel appointments, but we do require a minimum of 48 hours’ notice please.

Failure to attend the appointment, or any appointments cancelled on the day, will result in loss of the full deposit (£45).

Appointments can be moved or cancelled free of charge, providing the request is made more than 48 hours before the appointment.

If you are running late for your appointment, please let us know and we will do our best to fit you in. If you are significantly late for your appointment, please be aware that this may result in a cancelled appointment. A cancelled appointment due to late arrival will result in the fee terms detailed above.

Plan patients

For members of our plan, if more than one hygiene appointment within a 12-month period is missed, or cancelled on the day of the appointment, this will result in the loss of 1 hygiene visit, and you will need to wait 6 months to book another appointment.

For members of our enhanced plan, if more than one hygiene appointment within a 12-month period is missed, or cancelled on the day of the appointment, this will result in the loss of 1 hygiene visit, and you will need to wait 3 months to book another appointment.

In the case of extenuating circumstances, you may appeal cancellation charges by submitting a Cancellation Appeal Form, which can be requested from a member of our reception team. A decision on the outcome of any appeal may take up to 10 working days.

Effective from 1st September 2023