At St Heliers Dental Centre we have an established Dental Hygiene department with 2 dental hygienists who each have over a decade of experience in the field.

Angela Endeacott trained in Glasgow, Scotland and has been working in New Zealand for 12 years. Melissa Green is originally from Canada, where she trained as a Dental Assistant with special interest in Orthodontics in 1997. She has worked as a Dental Assistant in the UK, Canada & Europe.

Why see a Dental Hygienist ?
Dental hygienists are specially trained members of the dental team who work together with the dentist to provide complete dental care.

Periodontal (gum) disease is the main cause of tooth loss in adults, with 80% of adults having some form of periodontal problem. It is often painless and most adults are unaware that they have a problem. Dental hygienists are trained to treat and prevent periodontal (gum) disease, by evaluating and assessing your periodontal tissues, scaling and polishing of teeth and giving home care instructions based on individual needs.

How do I know if I have Gum Disease ?

• Do your gums ever bleed when you brush your teeth or when you eat hard food?
• Have you noticed any spaces developing between your teeth?
• Do you have discoloured or dirty teeth ?
• Do your gums ever feel swollen or tender?
• Are your gums red and puffy ?
• Have you noticed that your gums are receding (pulling back from your teeth) or your teeth appear longer than before?
• Do you have persistent bad breath?
• Have you noticed pus between your teeth and gums?
• Have you noticed any change in the way your teeth fit together when you bite?
• Are your teeth loose ?
• Do you ever develop sores in your mouth?
• Do you have a bad taste in your mouth ?

If you have answered yes to any of the questions then you may have gum disease.

Call us on 575 5814 for your assessment.