Dental Hygienist Procedures - help!

frostyspice

I like to look after my teeth but I dread the dentist saying I need to see the hygienist, because I can't bear the awful scraping of the metal instruments on my teeth! It feels worse than dragging one's nails down an old-style blackboard.

I thought I was quite a stoical person but last time I went I kept thinking that I couldn't stand another second of it, and it probably wasn't as bad as it could have been as I'd just had some local anaesthetic for a filling.

Am I just being a drip or is this a common problem with people? Do those sonic toothbrush things cut down the need for plaque-scraping?

Any advice most welcome. I've just moved to a new area, and I'm about to find a new dentist and make an appointment for a check-up. I know he or she will say 'appointment with hygienist'!

Toothsmith

It can be a bit unpleasant! Everybody has different tollerances, pain thresholds and things that they generally cringe at!

I tell my patients that the reason I have a hygienist is so that I look like 'the good guy' again, as I then don't have to do the nasty stuff!!

I think hygienists are brilliant! As I've said in a previous post, they have really managed to turn around a lot of patients that I thought were lost causes.

None of this really helps you though!!

Most hygienists are qualified to give local anaesthetic, and if you really hate it, a few drops injected around your mouth can numb things up very nicely whilst not lasting for too long afterwards. Or even just in the areas you find worst.

Sonicare claim that their brushes can cut down the need for scaling, but I have yet to be convinced. Personally, if I was spending that sort of money on a toothbrush, I'd go for one of the top of the range Oral B oscillating ones - like the 9500. With it's little interdental brushes as well. Also correctly sized TePe interdental brushes are great too at getting in between the teeth - the hygienist should be able to tell you which is the correct size for your gaps.

I'm afraid that no amount of money can compensate for TIME though. It should take a good 5 minutes to give your teeth a thorough cleaning including interdental brushes.

I often tell my patients that I'd sooner they spent 5 mins once a day than 2 mins 3 times a day. But even 2 mins seems a hell of a long time to spend with a toothbrush!!

Take some time before you go to bed (Not when you're all in a rush in the morning) and really make a thorough job of it. part of the hygienists job should be to show you where you are missing, and give hints 'n tips on how to get things better.

frostyspice

Thanks for that reply Toothsmith, that was very helpful. Interesting advice about the length of time one should spend brushing - I'll remember that and act accordingly!

Toothsmith

Also, don't confuse 'time' with 'pressure'. Nothing is gained by pressing on harder, and that can damage teeth over time.

K9cuddles

I tend to brush my teeth in the shower... I wash everything else with hot water I can't see why teeth aren't the same! I save water this way too.. and as I'm never in a rush toget out the shower I tend to take longer too!

saying that I've just had 1 new filling and 1 refill.. but I've just dropped drinking 2 litres of normal coke aday too!

tomstickland

Don't do this at home, but i had one really annoying bit of plaque that caught on my tongue so much that one night I took a very sharp jewellers screwdriver to it (very gently). The relief as that cack came of, so now I'm really looking forwards to letting a proper hygeinist sort it out. The worst thing about hygienists is that mental image in your mind. They're doing you a brilliant favour though. Hate that plaque.

I remember now, years ago the woman hygienist at my local dentists was OK. One day I went along, mildly not looking forwards to it. There I was sat in the waiting room when a really attractive young lady came out and announced that she was my new hygienest. Best dental visit ever, she was gorgeous. So maybe that's what you need.

"Seriously" though, do hygienests have some sort of compulsive scraping disorder? What a weird job.

Sonicare claim that their brushes can cut down the need for scaling, but I have yet to be convinced. Personally, if I was spending that sort of money on a toothbrush, I'd go for one of the top of the range Oral B oscillating ones - like the 9500. With it's little interdental brushes as well. Also correctly sized TePe interdental brushes are great too at getting in between the teeth - the hygienist should be able to tell you which is the correct size for your gaps.

I'm afraid that no amount of money can compensate for TIME though. It should take a good 5 minutes to give your teeth a thorough cleaning including interdental brushes.

I often tell my patients that I'd sooner they spent 5 mins once a day than 2 mins 3 times a day. But even 2 mins seems a hell of a long time to spend with a toothbrush!!

I've got a sonicare with built in 2 minute timer. It's great for ensuring that all brushing sessions last the correct time.

I've read that ultrasonic brushes don't have superior performance to other electric brushes. What's this model that you recommend. I can spend my matched laybetting free money on a decent brush.

Toothsmith

I have a Sonicare and a Braun (The joy of freebies!!) I must admit I really like the Sonicare.

This is personal preference though. In terms of published evidence, the balance of power is with the Braun.

Either used correctly for enough time would do a good job though, and neither would stop you getting holes with a 2ltr a day coke habit!!!

Better than any other coke habit though!!!


EDIT - Have a read of post 2 - The oral B 9500. The dogs dangly bits!!

tomstickland

Aye well I'm a low sugar person myself, plus I've given up Coffee at work (disgusting stuff now I'm water only).

What Braun model is the business then?

What are your views on floss? My dentist sold me a box of prethreaded flossing "forks" a while back, she told me that men have big hands and small mouths and these were the answer.

across

i just make sure i book hygienist at every dentist appointment that way they keep on top of everything and teeth always feel nice! luckily i have lots of gaps cos i never had a full set of teeth! and i still have 2 milk teeth (in my mid to late thirties!!)they are quite easy to clean not to much pain with hygienist!!

tomstickland

Re toothbrushi (sorry about the hijack) I've just had a look on Amazon, this is advertised as a bargain at £99, Braun Ultrasonic everything: http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00065HTBC/qid=1138407310/sr=8-5/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i5_xgl/026-4099437-1870814

Back to the hygienist, making me feel bad now, it's the thinking about it that's bad.

elisebutt65

OMG - I cry when my dentist does mine - I have really sensitive teeth and he always insists on using the water pressure jet spray thing - I hate it soo much - I'd rather spend a bit longer with the metal scrapy thing that that evil torture device!!

I spend ages brushing my teeth but have such a bad coffee habit that I've resorted to Crest White strips.

I use that Oral B Hummingbird thing for flossing now and it seems to have improved - floss always hurts my fingers - lol