Professional Dental Hygiene

ELEJ DENT's professional dental hygiene service includes comprehensive periodontal assessment, AIRFLOW polishing (compressed air and bicarbonate/glycine powder to remove staining and biofilm), ultrasonic supragingival and subgingival scaling to 3mm, deep subgingival cleaning (kyretáž) where needed, and rotary-brush polishing with prophylaxis paste. A fluoride gel is applied at the close of each session. The hygienist also provides detailed one-to-one oral hygiene instruction tailored to the patient's specific findings. Sessions are recommended every 3–6 months and are available to both current orthodontic patients and new self-referral patients.

Professional dental hygiene at ELEJ DENT goes beyond a routine scale-and-polish, incorporating a structured clinical assessment and a personalised hygiene instruction component. The clinic's dental hygiene team are accredited healthcare professionals who perform the service as both a preventive and therapeutic intervention. **First appointment structure:** The initial hygiene appointment begins with a full periodontal assessment: probing of pocket depths around each tooth, recording of plaque and bleeding indices, and identification of areas of active inflammation or attachment loss. Findings are explained to the patient with visual demonstration, a treatment plan is agreed, and the cleaning begins. **Treatment modalities:** *AIRFLOW:* A pressurised stream of sodium bicarbonate or glycine powder in water is used to remove biofilm (bacterial plaque), superficial staining from coffee, tea, wine, and tobacco, and early supra-gingival calculus deposits. AIRFLOW is gentler than traditional polishing pastes and reaches into interproximal spaces and the gingival margin more effectively. Unlike chemical whitening, AIRFLOW restores the tooth's natural colour without bleaching, and the alkaline bicarbonate neutralises the oral acid environment, reducing bacterial activity. *Ultrasonic scaling:* A piezoelectric or magnetostrictive scaler vibrates at ultrasonic frequency to shatter and remove calculus (tartar) deposits both above the gum line and into the subgingival space to approximately 3mm depth. The water coolant irrigates the pocket simultaneously. More calculus or deeper pockets may require additional appointments. *Kyretáž (curettage/SRP):* For pockets deeper than 3mm with active periodontal disease, hand instruments are used to remove calculus and diseased cementum from the root surface and flush the pocket with antiseptic solution. This is the definitive non-surgical treatment for moderate periodontitis and requires local anaesthetic in most cases. *Polishing and fluoride:* Rotary brush polishing with prophylaxis paste removes residual staining and smooths the tooth surface to slow re-accumulation of plaque. A fluoride gel is applied and held in contact with enamel for the final two minutes to remineralise and harden the surface. **Post-treatment instructions:** No eating or drinking for one hour after treatment; white diet (no staining foods/drinks) for two hours. Some patients experience minor sensitivity for 24–48 hours, particularly after subgingival scaling. **Recall programme:** The hygienist recommends a 3–6 month recall interval based on the patient's individual susceptibility to plaque and calculus re-accumulation. Recall appointments focus on monitoring, reinforcing hygiene technique, and performing a shorter maintenance clean.