Hygienist Services: Your guide to hygienist appointments

Why do I need an extensive session?

A BPE score (Basic Periodontal Examination) is recorded at every exam and hygienist visit and is one part of your oral health assessment. It helps our team to identify areas requiring closer attention. Where appropriate, your dentist or hygienist may carry out a 6-point pocket chart which records gum pocket depths and areas of bleeding in more detail.

These assessments, alongside your individual oral hygiene needs and the amount of plaque and calculus present, helps us determine the most appropriate level of care and appointment time.

An extensive hygienist session may be recommended where your teeth and gums would benefit from more time and attention than can be provided in a standard appointment. This may be because you have one or more of the following:

• Signs of periodontal (gum) disease or inflammation.
• Poor oral hygiene or higher levels of plaque
• Larger amounts of calculus (tartar) that require more time to remove.
• Deeper gum pockets or areas identified through a BPE / periodontal screening.
• Areas that are difficult to effectively clean at home.
• Multiple areas that require more detailed or thorough cleaning.

An extensive hygienist visit may include:

• Assessment of your gum health and areas requiring particular attention.
• Disclosing of the teeth with coloured solution to highlight areas that need more attention and cleaning.
• Recording areas of plaque and bleeding, and areas where deep pockets are present (6 point pocket chart).
• Removal of plaque and calculus from above and below the gumline.
• More detailed cleaning around deeper gum pockets.
• Careful cleaning around difficult-to-reach areas.
• Stain removal where appropriate.
• Personalised hygiene advice.
• Advice on interdental cleaning and the most suitable products for you.
• Review of areas that need ongoing monitoring, with personalised advice to help you improve / maintain your periodontal condition at home.
• Referral or discussion with your dentist where further periodontal assessment is appropriate.

Why can't this be done in a standard 30 minute appointment?

A standard 30-minute appointment is suitable for patients whose needs can be reasonably managed within that time. An extensive hygienist session allows your hygienist to work at a more appropriate pace and focus on the areas that require additional care.