OUR SERVICES
Edmonton Dental Hygiene Services
Talk to us at least one time every six months for the teeth cleaning, polishing, and dental education you need. Our dentists and dental hygienists are ready to help protect your teeth and prevent any risks to your smile. Have dental insurance? We offer convenient direct billing for all major benefits plan providers!
Gentle Dental Hygiene Treatments
Like at any good dental hygiene clinic, each of the registered dental hygienists here at Oliver Park Dental isn't just aiming to clean your teeth and check your oral health — they're trying to give you a gentle, comfortable experience from start to finish.
Every dental hygiene appointment (also referred to as ‘a dental cleaning’) removes plaque, tartar and stains to help you keep your teeth and gums healthy. During each visit, your dental hygienist removes buildup and debris in areas of the mouth that are difficult to see and reach at home with just a toothbrush.
Routine cleanings with our dental hygienists are a key part of everyday dental care. Combined with your at-home care routine, they help to protect you against tooth decay, gum inflammation, and other threats to your oral health.
Your Dental Hygienist
Your dental hygienist may also provide an oral cancer screening, fluoride to resist decay, scaling, polishing and/or restorations.
They will work with you, one on one to develop proper brushing and flossing techniques, provide nutrition counselling, and explain your dental treatment options in a way that makes you feel comfortable, confident, and well-informed about your oral health.
Bad Breath
Halitosis, or bad breath, is one of the most frequent reasons for visiting the dentist. Causes include infrequent brushing and flossing, gum disease, dry mouth, smoking and diet.
Your hygienist may suggest using a tongue scraper, chewing sugarless gum, gargling with mouthwash and drinking lots of water. Don't feel embarrassed or be dissuaded from having this discussion! It's more common than you might think, and understanding what's causing the oral health issue is the first step to fixing it.
Periodontal Disease (Gum Disease)
Periodontal disease is an infection caused by bacteria found in plaque. As the bacteria spread below the gumline, the gums and bone around the teeth begin to break down, and can lead to loose teeth or tooth loss.
Quite often, symptoms do not appear until the late stages, which is one reason why regular hygiene visits are encouraged. Possible early signs include: receding gums (gums moving away from the teeth), bleeding while brushing or flossing, bad breath, sores in mouth or loose or separating teeth.
By performing an oral examination, reviewing your x-rays, and measuring your gum levels along the area where your tooth meets your gumline, your hygienist can tell how much bone loss your periodontitis has caused. Once your stage of periodontal disease has been determined, your hygienist will work diligently with your dentist to personalize a treatment plan to suit your needs.
This may include specific homecare instructions and helpful item to assist you at home, start you on a Soft Tissue Management program where your hygienist and dentist can monitor and ensure your progress or a referral to a periodontist.
Tooth Sensitivity
Tooth sensitivity is a very common concern. Symptoms often arise after drinking hot or cold drinks or eating certain foods and sweets. Sensitivity can be easily treated with fluoride, and it often takes just a small adjustment to their routine before patients achieve much better everyday comfort. Your hygienist will often suggest using a toothpaste specifically for sensitive teeth.
Dry Mouth
Dry mouth is a common side effect of many prescription and non-prescription drugs, certain diseases and infections and medical treatments. It can also be a result of nerve damage, dehydration and lifestyle (smoking or chewing tobacco).
Symptoms include: frequent thirst, dryness in mouth, sores in mouth, cracked lips, dry and red tongue, problems speaking or trouble tasting, sore throat and bad breath.
Many people think it's just a natural part of life, or don't recognize the problem as something that dental professionals can help with, so they never ask about it.
If you find that your mouth is frequently dry, ask about it during your next visit to our dental office. Your hygienist will be able to discuss home care solutions that will help you combat your dry mouth.
Enamel Staining
Each dental hygiene visit includes a kind of complimentary teeth whitening that's known as "polishing". Using a special tool with a motorized soft rubber cup and a clinical-strength polishing paste, your hygienist will scrub away surface stains on each tooth.
While the effects aren't as strong as dedicated whitening treatment, they're able to do a better job of removing stains than typical at-home brushing can achieve on it own.