Dental Hygienist in Richmond, London - More than a “teeth cleaning”, much more
We offer Guided Biofilm Therapy (GBT), this is a specific treatment methodology, and only those practices that have the EMS machine can legally say that they perform GBT. This is not a traditional “scale and polish”.
But it is significantly more than just “cleaning teeth”, as you will read below
Dental Hygienist in Richmond, London
Benefits of regular hygiene visits at The Richmond Dentist:
- Prevents gum disease and tooth decay.
- Reduces the risk of expensive dental treatments in the future.
- Boosts overall health by reducing inflammation in the body.
- Enhances confidence with a fresh, clean, and radiant smile.
What types of GBT appointments are there?
- 60 minutes: all new patients, and those with active disease, higher plaque and bleeding scores.
- 45 minutes: maintenance and those that have earned the right to a shorter visit!
What happens in a 60-minute appointment
At The Richmond Dentist, every hygiene appointment is designed to be thorough, consistent and genuinely tailored to you. In your 60 minutes, we capture a clear baseline of your oral health, your starting position, and build an individualised care plan around it. Here's how that time is spent.
1. Patient intake and history (5 to 10 minutes)
We start by getting to know you and your health. We'll update your medical history and any medications, note relevant lifestyle factors such as diet, smoking, stress and sleep, and talk through any supplements or multivitamins you take. Then we'll discuss your goals for your oral health, because keeping your natural teeth for life is what this is all about.
2. Full periodontal (gum) assessment (10 to 15 minutes)
Healthy gums are the foundation of a healthy mouth, so we assess them properly. This includes full pocket charting, six points measured around every tooth, along with recording any gum recession and other soft-tissue findings. Where a 3D scan gives the clearest picture, we'll use one; if you've recently had a New Patient Examination, your dentist may already have scanned you. We also record plaque and bleeding scores, and review your iTero or digital scan both for your records and to help explain what we're seeing.
Any necessary X-rays can be taken at this stage (additional charge applies).
3. Personalised oral hygiene coaching (15 to 20 minutes)
This is where you get the most value long-term. We'll give you tailored guidance on brushing technique, whether manual or electric, and we often recommend the Oral-B iO. We'll cover interdental cleaning with floss, picks or TePe brushes, and help you choose the right toothpaste and mouthwash. We demonstrate each technique, make sure it makes sense for your mouth, and note everything down so we can build on it next time.
4. Clinical cleaning (10 to 15 minutes)
Using your pocket chart as a guide, we gently remove plaque and biofilm with soft EMS powder polishing (Airflow), irrigate the pockets using perio tips, and carry out hand scaling to lift any remaining calculus and refine the root surfaces. We no longer routinely polish teeth, the current evidence shows traditional polishing tends to do more harm than good.
5. Treatment planning and next steps (5 to 10 minutes)
Finally, we bring it all together into a plan that's yours. We'll talk through the findings, recommend how often you should be seen, and discuss any treatment that would help, whether that's Guided Biofilm Therapy, periodontal therapy, restorative work or a specialist referral. We'll listen to what you want from your care, make any onward referrals needed, and confirm your next appointment with clear objectives.
What you leave with
A clear picture of your oral health, a personalised hygiene plan, a schedule for ongoing care, and a summary with images sent to you. Both your hygienist and dentist refer to these notes every visit, so your care stays joined-up.
Your records, always to hand
Both your hygienist and dentist refer to your notes every time you visit. We record all findings, pocket depths, bleeding and plaque scores, iTero scans and hygiene notes, along with a summary of what we discussed and any images, which we can send on to you. It means your care stays joined-up and consistent, appointment after appointment.
What you leave with
By the end, you'll have a clear understanding of your current oral health, a personalised hygiene plan, a schedule for ongoing treatment and recall, and a real sense of where your oral health journey is heading and how to stay on track.
Request an emergency consultation
Experience Guided Biofilm Therapy with Richmond's experienced hygienists
When do we do a 45-minute appointment?
We only do this in the absence of inflammatory gum disease, with lower plaque and bleeding scores…...since we do all of the above, but it takes less time.
What happened to the 30-minute appointment?
It is impossible to do the above in 30-minutes, the 30-minute appointment has been banished to history and belongs in a museum! We want to do our best for you!
Treatment Fees
60 minutes: £180
45 minutes: £150
50% payable to confirm your appointment. 100% payable to confirm a Saturday appointment.
Our wonderful prevention team, Alice, Laura and Mia, look forward to seeing you soon.
