Hygiene
Alongside your regular dental examinations, hygiene appointments are vital for keeping your teeth and gums healthy. Our dental hygienist takes a gentle approach, helping even more nervous patients feel relaxed and comfortable. At Brunswick Square Dental, we are very proud to use revolutionary Guided Biofilm Therapy (GBT) in all hygiene appointments, a state-of-the-art treatment which gives outstanding results.
What is Guided Biofilm Therapy?
Guided Biofilm Therapy (GBT) is a modern innovation in dental hygiene, allowing us to deliver a new patient experience with treatment much less invasive and abrasive than traditional methods. GBT uses revolutionary AirFlow technology to remove biofilm, commonly known as plaque, from the mouth. Airflow combines a gentle jet of air, warm water and a special powder to clean biofilm and stains from the teeth and soft tissues, reducing the risk of decay or gum disease.
We believe GBT is the very best hygiene treatment available. It is minimally invasive, kind to the teeth and comfortable, meaning it is a great option for more nervous patients. The treatment is incredibly gentle and versatile, and can be used on natural teeth, the tongue and gums, dental implants, braces and restorations such as crowns, bridges and veneers. Traditional scraping, scaling and polishing are now considered outdated and abrasive and are not used. GBT provides far superior results, including light stain removal.
What happens at my GBT hygiene appointment?
- We carry out a full oral assessment, looking for signs of gum disease or decay. We are dedicated to helping you achieve and maintain healthy gums so will explain how we can best treat your gums to improve them and give you an idea of how many hygiene appointments you will need to reach stability for dental health.
- We use a special coloured dye on your teeth to disclose the biofilm and allow us to clearly see the areas that need to be worked on. We can also use this to give you advice on how to keep your mouth healthy as part of your oral hygiene routine at home.
- We use the gentle AirFlow technology to remove biofilm and staining from your teeth. Up to three AirFlow systems may be used for different areas of your mouth.
- We carry out a thorough final check of your mouth, ensuring that all the biofilm has been removed and your teeth and soft tissues are healthy and free of decay.
- We take the time to go over any advice we have for your home care and schedule your next hygiene appointment. If anything is unclear, please ask and we will be happy to help.
We appreciate that you may feel a little overwhelmed with so much advice and information, but if we do not offer the advice, we feel we are failing in your care. Please remember it is not a telling off or judgement, as ultimately we will listen to your requests and decisions about your treatment. If you think of anything you need to know after your appointment, please don’t hesitate to contact us and we will get back to you.
Do I need to see the dentist before I see the hygienist?
You do not need to see the dentist before you see a hygienist at our practice. You can access the hygiene services directly through a Direct Access appointment. We will conduct a thorough assessment and carry out any dental hygiene treatment that is necessary at the time of your visit, which will be discussed with you.
To ensure the best possible care for your teeth, and adhering to protocols, we may advise a check up with your dentist and x-rays may be necessary. We can recommend a dentist for you if you are not already seen here at Brunswick Square Dental Practice. This will be your choice and fully discussed at the time of your hygiene visit.
Dentists are qualified professionals, able to check all aspects of your teeth. They can help with dental problems including painful teeth, dental decay, fractured teeth and restorations such as crowns or veneers. As well as rectifying the clinical needs of your teeth, they are also able to help with aesthetically improving your smile. We recommend seeing a dentist at least once every 2 years.
What are the charges for a GBT hygiene appointment?
We offer appointments dependent on your clinical or aesthetic needs. Any hygiene, periodontal or gum disease treatments that are necessary for your optimal gum health will be discussed with you and planned together.
GBT 1 – £95
GBT 2 – £140
GBT 3 – £165
GBT 4 – £195
Often the anticipation of going to the dentist or dental hygienist can make us automatically assume that it's going to hurt. Listening to others who talk about a past or childhood experience can make us fearful. We aim to create a calm, relaxed approach. There can be an element of discomfort, and sometimes sensitivity can be experienced. Before any treatment begins we will prepare you, anticipating what you may feel during and after the session. The level of ease/discomfort experienced will be determined by the condition of your mouth, teeth and gums. However, we will be guided by your comfort and we will stop to give you a breather at any time. We can apply an excellent topical gel (short acting numbing gel) to aid discomfort. Any bleeding is temporary and is an indication of gum disease. This will be fully explained to you and the available options are discussed.
These appointments are recommended for patients needing more intensive treatments, such as deeper scaling because you have been diagnosed with periodontal (gum) disease, bleeding or heavy deposits and staining. If you are a particularly nervous patient or require local anaesthetic a longer or additional appointment may be more suitable for you. We will advise, explain fully and accommodate your treatment needs for you to then decide what's best for you.
We aim to build a strong rapport with our patients, ensuring an open communication path. We want you to feel that you receive an impeccable service.
The frequency you will need to have treatments varies for each patient, depending on your individual teeth, the speed you build up tartar/calculus, staining and your susceptibility to periodontitis.
For simple tartar/calculus or stain removal, a three monthly visit is usually enough. If there is any bone loss or unstable periodontal disease present, then more frequent visits may be advised.
We are also very happy to see you sooner should you wish to have an appointment for cosmetic or aesthetic reasons.
We have been trained to a very high standard, offering you the very best up to date treatments and dental advice tailored to your individual needs. These recommendations will be advised to either help eliminate, prevent, stabilise or protect your gum condition. If you choose not to participate or decline any advice or treatment, please inform us. We will advise you of the potential consequences/risks and your wishes will be respected.
We believe that as well as providing GBT we are here to offer health care advice, recommendations and suggestions to assist you in an overall health improvement. We want you to feel that you are making your own fully informed choices and are happy to guide you. Any decisions you make will be fully respected. We welcome your feedback.
If this is not your expectation and you only want a 'cosmetic clean' or you wish to attend on an ad hoc basis please inform our team of this and we will happily oblige. We will inform you of a realistic expectation and what can be achieved during your appointment.
We operate a smooth prompt service, so please try not to be late.
We will be able to see you for the remainder of your appointment time and if necessary will advise you if a further appointment is required. It would be impossible to see you for the whole duration as it would be unfair to the patient following your appointment to be kept waiting, thus creating a domino effect. We appreciate your understanding in this matter.
We are more than happy to rearrange your appointment should you need to alter it. We request a minimum of 48 working hours notice. This gives us time to fill the space, enabling us to accommodate patients who may be on a waiting list.
Unfortunately, if an appointment is missed or cancelled less than 48 working hours before, this will result in a forfeit of the deposit.
If an appointment is cancelled at short notice and our reception team are able to fill your cancelled appointment, your deposit will be carried forward to your next appointment.
We look forward to working with you to make a difference.
