Check-up & Clean

Regular hygiene appointments are the most reliable way to keep your teeth and gums healthy and free from dental disease. Even with excellent brushing and flossing at home, plaque and calculus can build up in areas that are difficult to reach - and once calculus forms, it can only be removed professionally.

Beyond keeping your mouth clean, there is a growing body of research linking oral health to overall systemic health, including heart disease, diabetes, and other serious conditions. Looking after your teeth and gums is about a lot more than your smile and can play a role in fighting many other diseases.

Your dental hygiene appointment appointment at our Unley dental clinic will be carried out by one of our qualified oral health therapists or hygienists - practitioners who are specifically trained in the prevention of dental disease. During your visit they will:

• Remove plaque and calculus deposits from your teeth and gums (professional scale and clean)
• Polish your teeth to remove surface stains and plaque
• Assess your overall oral health and risk of dental disease
• Take intra-oral photos for your dental records
• Use a plaque highlighting gel to identify areas that need more attention at home
• Apply a fluoride gel to help prevent decay
• Take x-rays when required
• Provide personalised advice on caring for your teeth and gums at home

They can also discuss other concerns you might have, including fresh breath and teeth whitening options.

Modern dental solutions have moved to a more team based approach, allowing specially trained practitioners to provide services that were traditionally performed by the dentist. These practitioners are extensively skilled and knowledgeable in the area of prevention of dental disease. They can give you a more thorough professional scale and clean and will give you tailored information on achieving and maintaining excellent oral and dental health. We believe this is providing a higher level of patient care and service.

At Dentistry on Unley, we believe this approach delivers a genuinely higher standard of preventive care for our patients in Unley and across Adelaide.

A standard examination and hygiene appointment at our Unley dental clinic is usually 50 to 60 minutes. This gives your oral health therapist or hygienist enough time to be thorough - never rushed - and to have a proper conversation with you about your oral health along the way.

For most people, every six months is the recommended frequency for maintaining optimal oral health. That said, your oral health therapist or hygienist will assess your individual needs and advise you on the right schedule for you. Some patients with certain dental or health conditions may benefit from more frequent visits - your practitioner will let you know if that applies to you.

For most patients, teeth cleaning appointments are completely comfortable and pain-free. If you have any sensitivity or have experienced discomfort during previous cleans, please let us know before your appointment, our team at Dentistry on Unley will take extra care and make sure you're comfortable throughout.

Adelaide tap water does contain a small amount of fluoride, however the fluoride gel we use is more concentrated and more effective for preventing decay. Although you may not have had any recent decay, root caries (decay on the necks of the teeth) has an increased prevalence with age. Fluoride is a major strategy for prevention of this type of decay in middle to older aged adults. The fluoride we use is safe and research shows that when applied six monthly it can reduce decay rates by 28%- an excellent and worthwhile preventive measure.

Airflow offers several benefits compared with traditional dental cleaning methods, making it a popular choice for many patients:

• More comfortable treatment – The gentle combination of air, warm water and fine powder provides a far more comfortable experience than traditional scaling and polishing.
• Faster and more efficient – Airflow can remove plaque and surface stains quickly, which often allows appointments to be completed more efficiently.
• Warm water helps reduce sensitivity – The system uses a warm water spray to minimise sensitivity, making the treatment particularly suitable for patients with sensitive teeth.
• Effective removal of biofilm and stains – Airflow targets and removes the sticky bacterial biofilm that forms on teeth, as well as stains caused by everyday foods and drinks.
• Reduced need for ultrasonic scaling – By effectively removing biofilm early in the cleaning process, there is often less need for ultrasonic instruments.
• Helps slow the return of biofilm – Thorough removal of plaque and biofilm can help delay how quickly it reforms after treatment.
• Comprehensive cleaning – Airflow can gently clean along the gumline, between teeth and even the surface of the tongue, supporting improved oral hygiene and fresher breath.

Overall, EMS Airflow provides a modern, gentle and highly effective way to maintain healthy teeth and gums as part of your regular dental hygiene care.