By Kelly Shah, Dental Hygienist at The Dental Clinic Portishead

I think a lot of patients see a hygiene appointment a bit like taking the car through a car wash — you come in, get a shiny polish, and off you go. I understand why, but it couldn’t be further from the truth. As hygienists, we’re not glorified cleaners. We’re here to look after not just your teeth, but your gums, your mouth and, believe it or not, your overall health.

So if you’ve never seen a hygienist before — or you’ve been putting it off — here’s exactly what happens when you sit in my chair.

First, we talk

Every appointment starts with a conversation, not instruments. I always ask how your past experiences have been, because a lot of patients arrive thinking hygiene is scary and painful — sometimes from their own experience, and sometimes just from things they’ve heard. I want to know where you’re starting from.

We’ll also go through what you’re currently doing at home: how you brush, whether you clean between your teeth, what products you use. There’s no judgement — I just need an honest picture so I can actually help.

Then, we have a look

Once you’re comfortable in the chair, I’ll examine your mouth and gums to see how your home routine is working. One of the main things I’m checking for is gum disease, and there are two types you should know about:

Gingivitis is the early stage, and it’s extremely common — around 90% of us will have it at some point in our lives. The good news? It’s completely reversible with the right care.

Periodontitis (perio disease) is what gingivitis can progress into if it’s left untreated. This stage is irreversible — you start to lose the bone that holds your teeth in place — which is exactly why we take the early signs so seriously.

If I spot anything, I’ll explain exactly what I’ve found and what it means. No jargon, no lecture.

We show you, not just tell you

Before any cleaning starts, I’ll go through your oral hygiene with you — and I never just talk at you. I’ll have you hold a mirror so you can see exactly where things are being missed and what you can do differently at home. In my experience, once patients can actually see it for themselves, everything clicks.

The clean itself

Then I’ll explain the procedure before I start, and here’s something I always make clear: the appointment goes at your pace. If you only want a few teeth done in that visit, that’s absolutely fine — we can finish at another appointment. I watch for the little things too; even a small hand twitch and I’ll stop and check you’re okay.

As for the clean, there are two approaches, and it comes down to your preference:

• Hand scaling — using hand instruments to carefully remove plaque and hardened deposits, with no water. Some patients, often the older generation, prefer this because they don’t like the build-up of water in the mouth.
• Ultrasonic cleaning — I use a small instrument that vibrates thousands of times a second, with a stream of water that cools the tip and washes beneath the gum line, flushing out bacteria as we go.

Whichever you prefer, we’re happy to accommodate you at the practice.

Nine times out of ten, patients finish the appointment saying the same thing: “That wasn’t as bad as I thought.”

How often should you come?

It depends on your gum health:

• If you have gingivitis (as most of us do at some point), ideally once a year.
• If you have periodontitis, we’d recommend every three months, so we can keep everything clean and protect the bone you have left. More severe cases can involve a lot of hardened calculus and may need anaesthetic, so treatment is sometimes spread over a couple of visits.
• If you have certain medical conditions — a heart condition, for example — I may recommend more frequent visits even if your gum scores look fine, because your oral health carries higher stakes. Our dental plans make regular visits much more affordable if that’s you.

More than just a clean

Here’s the part most patients don’t realise: gum disease is a systemic condition, which means it doesn’t stay in your mouth. Bacteria from your gums can enter your bloodstream and affect your heart, complicate diabetes, and even flare up during pregnancy. That’s why I always look at your medical history — not just your teeth.

But that’s a whole topic of its own, and I’ll cover it properly in another post.

If it’s been a while since your last hygiene visit — or you’ve never had one — we’d love to see you. And if you’re nervous, tell us. Helping nervous patients feel comfortable is honestly one of the best parts of my job.

Book a hygiene appointment with Kelly at The Dental Clinic Portishead — call the practice or book online.