Dental Hygiene Services

Information About Dental Hygiene Services

Here at Biddeford Saco Dental Associates we are fortunate to have five fully board-certified dental hygienists that can provide a wide array of services.  With the number of hygienists we have here, we are able to accommodate just about any time or day of the week to see you and your family.  Our hygienists will be your first point of contact here and whether this is your first visit ever or you're back for a check-up, our hygienists will greet you and take complete recordings of your mouth so that we may measure the health and well-being of not only your teeth and gums, but the body as a whole.  After that, one of our two dentists will meet with you and discuss findings and make recommendations as needed as well as address any questions or concerns you may have.

Our hygienists can provide not only a routine dental prophylaxis and fluoride application, but also more advanced periodontal procedures as well.  All of our hygienists are qualified to perform scaling and root planing should your periodontal needs require it.  For deeper scaling in areas that could traditionally be uncomfortable, we are excited to offer an anesthetic that requires no needles or injections yet provides a deep numbing of the gum tissue.  Our hygienists also can use ultrasonic cleaners that very quickly and effectively remove heavy buildup and stain from the teeth even after years of accumulation!  Your comfort is paramount to us here.

Proper Flossing Starts Beneath The Gumline And Cleans Down The Body Of The Tooth

Fig.1
Flossing technnique is important

Should you decide you'd like to do some teeth whitening, our hygienists can assist with fabricating custom trays for you and show you how to perform the teeth whitening.  Please see our section on Cosmetic Dentistry for more information on this increasingly popular procedure.

Sealants

Many of our patients here are children and young adults, and the benefits of fluoride to their developing teeth has been proven extensively.  But did you know that even with proper brushing and flossing there are still portions of the teeth that are susceptible to decay?  As soon as the first permanent molars come in to the mouth, the process of decay begins.  The deep grooves in the chewing surfaces of the teeth make ideal conditions for bacteria and food to accumulate.  Our toothbrush bristles can only reach down so far into these grooves.  What's left behind becomes the foundation for demineralization and cavities of the most susceptible part of our teeth.  

Sealants can protect these teeth from cavities.  Sealants are a tooth-colored resin material that bonds into the deep pits and fissures of the back teeth, thus eliminating the niche that bacteria thrive in and preventing the enamel from subsequent breakdown.  Although children and young adults are the most ideal candidates for sealants, adults can benefit from them as well. Sealants are placed by our hygienists, and they can let you know which teeth will benefit most from sealant application.