Hygienist

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Dental hygiene at Abbey

A little care for a healthier smile

At Abbey Dental Practice, our friendly hygiene team is here to help you care for your teeth and gums with professional cleaning and advice tailored to you. Below, we explain how we assess your gum health and what you can expect during your appointment, so you can feel informed and comfortable about your care.

Understanding your gum health

What is a BPE?

BPE stands for Basic Periodontal Examination. It is a screening tool used to assess gum health and determine the level of care needed. Your dentist or hygienist uses a probe to check your gums.

The mouth is divided into 6 sections (sextants), and each section receives a score from 0 to 4.

BPE scoring codes

Code 0
Healthy gums; no bleeding or plaque-retentive factors.
Code 1
Bleeding on gentle probing.
Code 2
Bleeding and calculus (tartar) or defective restorations present.
Code 3
The black band on the probe is partly hidden, indicating pocketing.
Code 4
The black band on the probe is completely hidden, indicating deep pocketing.
A closer look

What is a six-point pocket chart?

A 6-point pocket chart (6PPC) is a detailed assessment where the hygienist measures gum pocket depth and bleeding at six specific points around every tooth.

If a patient receives a Code 3 or Code 4, a 6PPC is recorded. This chart shows exact changes over time, helping clinicians diagnose gum disease (periodontitis) and monitor healing after deep cleaning or periodontal treatment.

Your appointment

How long will my hygienist appointment be?

A routine appointment lasts 30 minutes. Longer appointments may be required for deep cleaning or additional periodontal treatments.

What to expect

What happens during your hygienist appointment?

  1. Medical & Social History Reviewing your current information.
  2. Gum & Periodontal Assessment Measuring the gums and checking for bleeding and plaque.
  3. Plaque & Calculus Removal Cleaning using ultrasonic or hand instruments.
  4. Polishing Removing surface stains.
  5. Oral Hygiene Advice Demonstrating effective brushing and interdental cleaning techniques.
Here to help you care for your smile

Give your gum health some attention

Whether you are due a hygiene appointment or have noticed bleeding gums, our friendly team is here to help. Contact Abbey Dental Practice to arrange your appointment and discuss your gum health.

Call 01606 44725

Personalised advice and support for your teeth and gums.

Need an Emergency Appointment? Call us on 01606 44725

or Book an Appointment

Our Patients

Say About Us

I used to suffer anxiety when visiting the dentist due to a bad experience years ago, this resulted in me not going for years! Abbey dental have changed all that for me, I no longer stress or worry about going and their treatment is second to none. They have given me the confidence again and have not judged me or looked down at me. I would highly recommend them to anyone.
As soon as you walk in to Abbey Dental Practice you are welcomed with a friendly face. Rob and his team are friendly, professional, but above all they put you at ease. I have never had a fear of the dentist, but Abbey Dental Practice is the most customer friendly dentist I have ever been registered with. Would highly recommend without hesitation.
As someone who has been afraid of going to the dentist for many years, I was fortunate to go to Abbey Dental Practice. Everyone there is so helpful and friendly and Robert Handley is so calming and reassuring, I finally lost the fear. After some years due to gum recession I was advised implants were an option. After some thought I decided to go ahead and it was the best decision I could have made as I have no trouble eating at all.
I travelled over two hours for my appointment this morning, normally takes an hour, got stuck in heavy traffic. My family and friends ask me why haven't I changed dentist since moving to North Wales. My answer is simple......."I trust them"
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