Dental Hygiene
Your dental hygienist provides full oral health care, focusing on the prevention and treatment of oral disease.
This can include:
- Treating gingivitis and periodontal disease
- Scaling and polishing (cleaning teeth)
- Applying products to teeth and gums to improve oral health
- Teeth whitening procedures
- Preventative oral health care and advice
- Referrals to specialists if required
Dental Hygienists
A hygienist’s main role is to prevent gum disease by professionally cleaning your teeth, a process called scaling and polishing. Melody will carefully (and painlessly) remove any build up of plaque or calculus (tartar) above and below the gum. The cleaning process is also helpful for removing surface stains from your teeth that have built up from food and drink consumed in your diet. This is a gentle procedure, however if you have particularly sensitive teeth Melody is trained and licensed to apply a numbing anaesthetic to the area to ensure you are completely comfortable throughout your appointment should you need it.
Dental Hygienists are also experienced in preventative dental measures. Melody will be able to advise you on the best products and techniques to keep your mouth clean and healthy in-between visits. Regular dental hygiene treatment is vital to prevent cavities, gingivitis, and gum disease which can eventually lead to tooth loss. Not only this but regular hygiene visits help maintain a healthy heart, brain and gut. Your mouth is the gateway to other body systems!
All About Smiles has invested in advanced treatment options for gingivitis and gum disease and is Taupo’s only Dental Hygienist using Laser Therapy.
Advanced Hygiene Treatment
Laser bacterial reduction therapy is used to drastically reduce the amount of bacteria in your mouth. It also aids in healing and repairing tissues and can significantly improve bad breath.
This treatment is a painless addition to your regular dental hygiene appointment, known as a ‘scale and polish’. It takes approximately 5 – 10 minutes to complete and no anaesthetic is required.
Laser bacterial reduction therapy is also used to successfully reduce inflammation and prevent gum disease. All About Smiles is the only dental hygienist in Taupo using laser therapy as a treatment option.
If you have had gum disease in the past, laser bacterial reduction therapy will assist in the remission of the disease.
Laser therapy can be used on anyone; there are no contraindications. It is safe for children, orthodontic patients, pregnant mothers, compromised or complicated medical histories, cancer patients etc.
It takes approximately 7 weeks for the bacteria to recolonise after this therapy is completed, so the effects last long after your treatment has finished. Read more here
Implant care
Just like natural teeth, implants need proper care and maintenance to keep them free from disease and to maintain their longevity. Here at All About Smiles we have the expertise and skills to be able to correctly clean and care for your implants and/or bridgework, and show you how you can do the same at home!
Orthodontic cleaning
It can be especially difficult for young people to clean in and around braces, but good oral hygiene is possible. Melody is able to effectively clean around all componentry using modern cleaning methods and instruments. Home care is just as important, so Melody will spend time showing you how to effectively clean around the brackets and advise on what products are best suited.
Retainers
Removable retainers are custom made and are usually fitted after orthodontic treatment to keep the teeth straight. Teeth move throughout our life and without a retainer, the teeth will shift again.
Removable plastic retainer’s have many advantages over other types of retainers, such as:
- They are easily removed when you want to eat and drink, and to brush and floss your teeth.
- They are virtually invisible, so you’re more likely to wear them.
- They are less bulky and may be more comfortable than other types of retainers.
- They help to prevent tooth wear by protecting the teeth from the effects of grinding or clenching at night.
Over time, a clear removable retainer may crack or split, warp (from heat), become discoloured, or have a roughened surface (from grinding or clenching your teeth), or it may become lost.
If you are in need of a new retainer, please get in contact. Prices start from $160 for one arch.
Mouthguards
We make custom mouthguards for players involved in contact sports. Our mouthguards are individually handcrafted in our dental laboratory, which provides the player with a mouthguard with superior fit, comfort and protection. Our design ensures a close fit for improved retention. Speech and breathing also remained unrestricted, making their mouthguards perfect for players always on the go. Our mouthguards are built touch with two layers of EVA laminated together to ensure excellent tensile strength and longevity. You still play at your best, so don’t settle for anything less when it comes to dental protection than you can.
Mobile Dental Care
If you or a loved one is having trouble getting to the dental office, we will come to you! By bringing dental hygiene services to the patient, we hope to diminish and prevent further deterioration of teeth, gums, and supportive tissues of the mouth while allowing our patients to remain in their familiar and comfortable environments.
We believe that every individual has the right to make choices and to be treated with dignity and respect. We strive to provide the highest standard of care for each individual.
We promote active collaboration with other health care professionals to offer the best possible care. We will work with your GP, dentist, pharmacist, nursing facility director and staff to bring you the level of care you require.
Air polishing
Air polishing is a treatment used to remove unwanted stains quickly and effectively on the teeth, leaving you with a smile to be proud of. This procedure involves using a jet of compressed air, water and a fine powder (sodium bicarbonate) to gently remove surface stains caused by coffee, red wine, tea, smoking, etc. Air Polishing has many advantages; the most beneficial one is how gentle it is. It greatly reduces discomfort, especially in those who have heavy staining issues.
For those suffering from tooth sensitivity, air polishing is an ideal treatment:
- There is no direct contact with the equipment and your teeth, meaning no heat or vibration is present.
- The tiny micro particles of powder fill the dentin tubules when exposed, reducing dental sensitivity.
- It can also promote the rematerialization of damaged teeth.
- Air polishing is gentle on the teeth and gums.
- It can reach the tightest of teeth gaps.
- It quickly and effortlessly removes stains, plaque and stuck food from the frontside and backside of teeth.
- Air polishing offers zero pain, is harmless for enamel, and is the most efficient dental polishing system, meaning shorter treatment times.
The leading cause of tooth loss in New Zealand is not from decay but gum and bone disease, also known as periodontal disease.
Research now shows a clear link between periodontal disease and many medical conditions. In many cases serious consequences can arise in at risk patients with periodontal disease.
These include:
- Cardiovascular disease risk, with increased risk of stroke and heart attack.
- Premature birth with low birth weight babies.
- Uncontrolled diabetes in adult diabetics.
- Increased risk of pneumonia, particularly in elderly patients.