Dental hygiene
Dental hygienist in Ipswich
A hygiene appointment removes the plaque and hardened tartar that brushing leaves behind, checks your gums and shows you how to keep them healthy at home. Teeth feel smooth and fresh afterwards, and regular visits help keep gum disease at bay.
A 30-minute appointment is £80 if you are registered here, or £100 if you are not, and you can book without seeing a dentist first. A 45-minute appointment with gum treatment is £110.
The appointment
What a hygiene appointment includes
Your appointment is with Leena Yadav (GDC 307754) or Bhavyasree Kannoth (GDC 305884), both dental therapists and hygienists. Everything below happens in the same visit, and your hygienist spends longest on whatever your mouth needs most.
-
Checking your gums
Your teeth and gums are checked for early signs of decay or inflammation, and where needed the pockets between your teeth and gums are measured and recorded, so changes can be tracked over time.
-
Scaling
Hand instruments and an ultrasonic scaler remove plaque and tartar from the teeth and, where needed, below the gum line. Tartar cannot be removed by brushing alone.
-
Polishing and stain removal
Removing surface stains from tea, coffee, red wine and tobacco.
-
Advice that fits you
Your hygienist shows you how to clean the areas that need more attention, with the right brushes for between your teeth.
-
Cleaning around braces and aligners
Brackets and wires make some areas harder to clean. Your hygienist helps you clean around them and advises on care during aligner treatment.
-
Cleaning around implants
Suitable instruments are used to clean around implants and look after the surrounding gums.
Tell your hygienist if an area feels tender and they will pause or adjust the cleaning.
Why it matters
Healthy gums keep your teeth secure
Gum disease often develops without you feeling it. A hygiene appointment picks up the early signs and clears the plaque and tartar that cause them.
Worth getting checked
- Gums that bleed when you brush
- Bad breath or a taste that comes back however much you brush
- Gums that look puffy or have pulled back from the teeth
- A tooth that feels slightly loose, or a bite that has changed
What regular visits do
- Regular visits help manage gum inflammation, keep the tissues around your teeth healthy and look after the gums around crowns, bridges and implants.
What it costs
What a hygiene appointment costs
The 30-minute appointment is the standard visit. The 45-minute visit is for gums that need extra treatment, and your hygienist will tell you if you need it.
Private fees
| Hygiene appointment, 30 minutes | £80 |
|---|---|
| Hygiene appointment, 45 minutes, with gum treatment | £110 |
| Direct access hygiene, if you are not registered here | £100 |
| Cosmetic jet polishing | £75 |
If you come regularly
Membership includes hygiene
Plan C is £14.75 a month for two hygiene visits a year. Plan B is £25.15 a month and adds two examinations. You can start using your plan's appointments after six monthly payments.
Compare the plansFor surface staining
Cosmetic jet polishing
A fine spray of air, water and powder lifts surface staining. It is a separate cosmetic appointment, £75. Your hygienist will check it suits you at the assessment, and results vary from person to person.
See the full private fee list.
Common questions
Hygiene questions
What people ask most often before booking. If yours is not here, call the practice and ask.
How often should I come?
It depends on your gums, and your hygienist will recommend an interval for you. How quickly you build tartar, whether you smoke and what you drink all play a part. Some people need every three or four months, others manage on once a year.
Will it be uncomfortable?
If your gums are inflamed, some areas can feel tender; tell your hygienist and they will pause or adjust the cleaning.
Why do my gums bleed?
Usually because plaque along the gumline has made them inflamed. It is common, and it usually settles once the area is cleaned well, so keep brushing there gently rather than avoiding it.
Do I need to see a dentist first?
You can book a hygiene appointment directly, which is called direct access. It is £100 rather than £80 if you are not registered here. If you need to see a dentist about anything, your hygienist will tell you.
Will it whiten my teeth?
Polishing lifts surface staining from tea, coffee and tobacco, so teeth often look brighter afterwards, but the natural colour underneath stays the same. Whitening is a separate treatment, £375. See our whitening page.
Will my teeth be sensitive afterwards?
Some people notice mild sensitivity for a few days. Ask your hygienist about a sensitive toothpaste, and contact us if it carries on or gets worse.
Book a hygiene appointment
Send a request or call us, and reception will confirm a time with you. We are at 51 Berners Street in central Ipswich. If it has been a while since your last visit, tell us when you book so we can plan the appointment.