DENTAL HYGIENE & GUM CARE
Professional Teeth Cleaning
and Personalised Gum Care
Healthy gums provide the foundation for a comfortable, functional smile.
Some people require a routine professional clean to remove plaque, tartar and surface staining. Others have inflammation, deeper gum pockets or bone loss that requires more extensive periodontal treatment and closer ongoing maintenance.
You can book directly with our registered oral health therapists, whether you are an existing Glow Dental patient or have not visited our practice before.
On this page
Dental hygiene based on your gum health
At Glow Dental, your hygiene care begins with an assessment of what is happening around your teeth and gums. We then recommend the appropriate level of cleaning, treatment and ongoing maintenance for your individual needs
Dental hygiene involves more than polishing the visible surfaces of your teeth.
Plaque can collect around the gumline and between the teeth, where it may cause inflammation and bleeding. If plaque is not removed effectively, it can eventually harden into tartar that cannot be brushed or flossed away safely at home.
For some patients, these deposits remain mainly above the gumline and can be managed through routine hygiene appointments and improved home care. For others, bacteria and tartar extend beneath the gums and contribute to periodontal disease, deeper pockets and loss of the bone supporting the teeth.
This is why we do not automatically provide the same appointment to every patient. We assess your gums, identify the appropriate diagnosis and recommend care according to the condition we find.
Your treatment may involve
- Routine preventive teeth cleaning
- Removal of plaque and hardened tartar
- Ultrasonic and hand scaling
- Polishing and surface-stain removal
- Air polishing where appropriate
- Interdental cleaning
- Personalised brushing and flossing guidance
- Scaling and root planing
- Periodontal maintenance
- Gum care before or after other dental treatment
Fluoride treatment is also available and is charged separately where recommended.
Meet our hygiene team
Our dental hygienists are Saman Afsar and Anna Kim, providing gum-health assessment and routine maintenance care.
Saman Afsar, BOH (AUT)
Registered Oral Health Therapist
Saman has undertaken additional diploma level education in periodontal care, beyond her initial qualifying education. Her clinical focus includes gum health assessment, periodontal maintenance and the nonsurgical management of gum disease. She leads our hygiene department.
Anna Kim, BOH (AUT)
Registered Oral Health Therapist
Anna’s clinical focus includes gum health assessment and routine maintenance care. She works closely with Saman and is continuing to build her experience in more complex hygiene care. Patients requiring periodontal treatment or more complex hygiene management are currently cared for by Saman.
Our oral health therapists work alongside the dentists at Glow Dental, so they can document concerns identified during a hygiene appointment and refer patients for further dental assessment when needed.
What happens during a hygiene appointment?
Your appointment begins with a review of your gums and oral health needs.
Your gum-health assessment may include
- Measurement of the spaces or pockets around the teeth
- Recording areas of gum bleeding
- Assessment of plaque and tartar accumulation
- Examination for gum recession
- Assessment of tooth mobility
- Periodontal charting
- Review of relevant medical and dental history
- Dental X-rays where clinically required
- Assessment of the bone supporting the teeth
- Discussion of your current brushing and interdental-cleaning routine
Glow Dental’s registered oral health therapists can take and review X-rays required for hygiene or periodontal care. These X-rays may be used to assess bone levels and identify areas that require closer attention during treatment.
This assessment focuses primarily on gum and periodontal health. A separate comprehensive examination with a dentist is required to assess your complete dental health, including the teeth, existing restorations, bite and other possible dental conditions.
Your first hygiene appointment
During a first hygiene appointment, our priority is to assess your gum health thoroughly, establish the correct diagnosis and determine the level of care you need.
We will usually provide some cleaning or treatment during that first visit. However, additional sessions may be recommended where there is heavier tartar accumulation, deeper gum pockets or established periodontal disease.
We will explain:
- What we have found
- Which type of treatment is recommended
- Whether more than one session may be required
- The cost of each recommended session
- When you should return for maintenance
Your future appointments can then be adjusted as your gum health and individual risk level change.
How we professionally clean your teeth
Different instruments and techniques may be used according to the location and amount of plaque, tartar and staining present.
PLAQUE & TARTAR REMOVAL
Ultrasonic scaling
An ultrasonic scaler uses controlled vibration and water to help remove deposits from the teeth. It is commonly used for general cleaning and for breaking down larger areas of tartar.
PRECISE CLEANING
Hand scaling
Fine hand instruments allow the oral health therapist to clean particular surfaces carefully and remove deposits in areas requiring more precise treatment.
SURFACE FINISHING
Polishing
Polishing can help smooth the tooth surfaces and remove some external discolouration after plaque and tartar have been removed.
PLAQUE & SURFACE STAINING
Air polishing
Air polishing may be used where appropriate to help remove plaque and external surface staining. It is one of several cleaning methods that may be used alongside ultrasonic scaling, hand instrumentation and conventional polishing.
It is not required for every patient. You are welcome to ask about air polishing, and your oral health therapist can advise whether it would be useful and suitable for your teeth and gums.
Regardless of the combination of methods used, the aim is to thoroughly clean your teeth and gums while tailoring the treatment to your clinical needs and comfort.
Can professional cleaning remove tooth staining?
Hygiene treatment can often improve external staining caused by substances that collect on the tooth surface.
SURFACE STAINING
Staining professional cleaning may improve
Hygiene treatment can often improve external staining caused by:
- Tea
- Coffee
- Tobacco
- Red wine
- Chromogenic bacteria
- Other deposits that collect on the tooth surface
Some deeper or more persistent staining may not be fully removed through hygiene treatment alone.
INTERNAL TOOTH COLOUR
What professional cleaning cannot change
Professional cleaning cannot change the natural internal colour of the teeth. Intrinsic discolouration develops within the tooth rather than on its outer surface.
Depending on the cause and condition of the teeth, this may require different treatments, such as teeth whitening, composite bonding, veneers, or crowns.
Your oral health therapist can explain whether the colour you are concerned about appears to be removable surface staining or discolouration that requires assessment by a dentist.
Routine cleaning, gingivitis and periodontal treatment
The appropriate level of care depends on your diagnosis rather than simply how long it has been since your last clean.
STABLE GUM HEALTH
Routine preventive cleaning
Routine care is generally suitable when the gums are stable, pocket depths remain within a healthy range, and there is relatively little inflammation, bleeding or buildup.
The aim is to remove plaque and tartar, maintain gum health and help you continue effective care at home.
GUM INFLAMMATION
Gingivitis care
Gingivitis occurs when the gums become inflamed and may bleed during brushing, flossing or professional examination.
At this stage, there is inflammation without the bone loss associated with periodontitis. Professional cleaning and improved home care can help control the plaque contributing to that inflammation.
PERIODONTAL DISEASE
Periodontal treatment
Established periodontitis may involve deeper gum pockets, bone loss visible on X-rays, tartar above and below the gumline, gum recession, persistent inflammation or bleeding, tooth mobility and, in some cases, suppuration or discharge.
Periodontal treatment and reassessment
Where periodontal disease is present, treatment is planned according to the depth and extent of the disease, the areas affected and your individual treatment needs.
PERIODONTAL THERAPY
What treatment may involve
Where periodontal disease is present, treatment may involve deeper cleaning below the gumline, scaling and root planing, local anaesthetic and several longer appointments.
Most periodontal cases can be managed within Glow Dental. Every case is assessed individually, and any decision regarding referral to a periodontist depends on the diagnosis, severity, complexity and response to treatment.
Reassessment after treatment
Patients are usually reassessed approximately three months after completing initial periodontal treatment.
At this review, we may compare:
- Gum-pocket measurements
- Bleeding
- Plaque and tartar accumulation
- Tooth mobility
- Any signs of suppuration
- The overall response of the gums
These findings help determine whether further treatment is necessary and how frequently periodontal maintenance should be provided.
Dental cleaning costs at Glow Dental
The fee for your appointment depends on the amount of buildup present, the diagnosis and the type of treatment required.
ROUTINE HYGIENE
Standard hygiene appointments
$240–$300 per session
Usually 45–60 minutes
Standard hygiene appointments are generally 45–60 minutes and cost approximately $240–$300 per session.
This range covers routine hygiene care, with the precise treatment determined after assessing your teeth and gums.
PERIODONTAL THERAPY
Periodontal therapy appointments
$500 per session
Usually 60–75 minutes
Periodontal therapy appointments are generally 60–75 minutes and cost $500 per session.
The total number of sessions required depends on the extent and location of the periodontal disease and how treatment needs to be divided.
We do not want patients to choose care based only on a standardised package price that may not reflect what their gums actually need. Following your assessment, we will explain the recommended treatment, the likely number of sessions, the cost of each session and your proposed maintenance interval.
NEW PATIENT OFFER
Save $60 on your first hygiene clean
New patients can receive $60 off their first hygiene clean when they first book a $195 comprehensive examination with our dentist Dr Linda Hwang.
The comprehensive examination must be completed to claim the hygiene offer.
To claim the offer, please call or email Glow Dental rather than booking the hygiene appointment independently through the online system
Our team can coordinate the comprehensive examination and hygiene appointment correctly for you.
Patients who do not wish to use the offer may still book directly with an oral health therapist online, by telephone or by email.
How often should you have your teeth professionally cleaned?
There is no single recall interval that is appropriate for everyone.
Your recommended schedule depends on factors including your current gum diagnosis, previous periodontal disease, how quickly tartar accumulates, the effectiveness of your home care, smoking, diabetes, dental implants, gum-pocket depths, bleeding and inflammation, and your response to previous treatment.
LOWER RISK
12-month appointments
Twelve-month appointments may be appropriate for a small number of patients with no active gum disease, excellent oral hygiene and consistently effective home care.
ROUTINE MAINTENANCE
6-month appointments
Six-month appointments suit many patients with mild gingivitis, relatively low buildup and generally good home care.
INCREASED RISK
4-month appointments
Four-month appointments are commonly recommended for patients with increased risk factors, such as smoking, diabetes, dental implants, a history of gum disease or rapid tartar accumulation.
PERIODONTAL MAINTENANCE
3-month appointments
Three-month appointments are often recommended following periodontal treatment or when gum health cannot be maintained with home care alone.
These are guidelines rather than fixed rules. Your interval will be reviewed at each visit and may change as your gum health improves or your risk factors change.
Hygiene care for children, teenagers and nervous patients
Glow Dental provides hygiene care for children, teenagers and adults, with treatment and support adapted to individual needs.
CHILDREN & TEENAGERS
Hygiene appointments for younger patients
Glow Dental provides hygiene care for children, teenagers and adults.
Patients under 18 are seen by Saman, our registered oral health therapist, at private fees.
Appointments can help younger patients develop effective brushing and interdental-cleaning habits, manage plaque and tartar buildup and understand how diet and daily routines affect their teeth and gums.
The treatment and advice provided will be adapted to the child or teenager’s age, dental development and individual needs.
COMFORT & SUPPORT
Support for nervous hygiene patients
It is common for patients to feel nervous about hygiene treatment, particularly when they have sensitive teeth, have experienced uncomfortable cleaning in the past or have avoided dental care for several years.
You will not be judged for how long it has been since your last appointment.
Our team can adapt treatment through:
- A slower pace
- Explanations before treatment begins
- Regular breaks
- Shorter or staged appointments
- An agreed stop signal
- Numbing gel
- Local anaesthetic
- Adjustments for sensitive teeth and gums
Local anaesthetic may be used for deeper periodontal cleaning or where sensitivity would otherwise make treatment uncomfortable.
IV sedation may also be available for appropriate patients undergoing periodontal therapy. This requires separate clinical assessment and planning, and it is not routinely necessary for standard hygiene appointments.
Should bleeding gums be professionally assessed?
Bleeding during brushing or flossing is often a sign of gum inflammation and should not simply be ignored.
Assessment of bleeding gums
You can book directly with one of our oral health therapists for an assessment of bleeding gums. We will examine the area, assess your gum health and advise whether professional cleaning, improved home care, periodontal charting or deeper treatment is needed.
If further assessment by a dentist is appropriate, the oral health therapist will advise you.
WHEN TO CONTACT US PROMPTLY
Do not wait for a routine appointment if you also have:
- A loose or increasingly mobile tooth
- Gum or facial swelling
- Pus or drainage
- Persistent pain
- Pain that is not adequately controlled with over-the-counter pain relief
These symptoms may indicate more advanced gum disease or an active infection that requires earlier assessment.
Plaque and tartar are not the same
Plaque is a soft bacterial film that continually develops on the teeth. Over time, plaque that remains undisturbed can mineralise and become hard tartar, sometimes also called calculus.
SOFT BACTERIAL FILM
Plaque
Plaque is a soft bacterial film that continually develops on the teeth.
When thoroughly disrupted through twice-daily brushing, daily interdental cleaning, and fluoride toothpaste, plaque can usually be managed effectively at home.
When plaque remains undisturbed, it becomes more mature, more firmly established and harder to remove. Professional cleaning may then be required.
HARDENED DEPOSITS
Tartar (calculus)
Over time, plaque can mineralise and become hard tartar, sometimes also called calculus.
Tartar cannot be removed safely or effectively with a toothbrush, floss or home dental tools. It requires professional dental instruments.
Some patients form tartar more rapidly because of factors such as:
- Saliva composition
- Tooth position
- Crowding
- Brushing and flossing technique
- Individual oral-health risks
Your oral health therapist can show you where deposits tend to collect and recommend practical ways to improve cleaning between appointments.
Why choose Glow Dental for hygiene and gum care?
PERSONALISED GUM CARE
Care based on your gum health, not a standard clean
Our approach is centred on providing the right level of care for your gum condition rather than placing every patient in the same appointment.
The objective is not simply to complete a clean. It is to help you understand your gum health, receive the appropriate treatment and establish a realistic maintenance plan.
At Glow Dental:
- You can book directly with a registered oral health therapist.
- Your gum health is assessed before the appropriate treatment is determined.
- Appointment length and treatment are based on your diagnosis and clinical needs.
- Routine hygiene and more complex periodontal care are available.
- Most periodontal cases can be managed within the practice.
- X-rays required for periodontal assessment can be taken and reviewed by our oral health therapists.
- Numbing gel and local anaesthetic are available where appropriate.
- Nervous patients can receive slower, staged and individually adapted care.
- Your recall interval is reviewed as your gum health changes.
- Our oral health therapists work closely with the dentists at Glow Dental when broader dental assessment is required.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. New and existing patients can book directly with our oral health therapists online, by phone or by email.
A separate dentist’s examination is required if you want a comprehensive assessment of your teeth and wider dental health. New patients must also complete the $195 comprehensive examination to receive $60 off their first hygiene clean.
Standard hygiene appointments generally cost between $240 and $300 and take approximately 45–60 minutes.
Periodontal therapy sessions cost $500 and generally take approximately 60–75 minutes. The number and type of appointments recommended will depend on the findings from your assessment.
Glow Dental uses air polishing as part of our hygiene care. Air polishing uses a gentle stream of air, water and fine powder to remove plaque and external surface staining, and it may be recommended where it suits your teeth and gums.
Airflow is one particular branded air-polishing system. The technique we provide works on the same principle and is used where appropriate as part of a thorough, individually tailored clean.
Professional cleaning can remove or improve many external stains caused by substances such as tea, coffee, tobacco and red wine.
It cannot change the natural internal colour of your teeth. Internal discolouration may require teeth whitening or another cosmetic dental treatment.
No. Once plaque has mineralised into hard tartar, it cannot be removed safely or effectively through brushing and flossing alone.
Professional instruments are required to remove it without damaging the teeth or gums.
Some patients only require one routine maintenance appointment. Others may need additional sessions because of heavier buildup, deeper gum pockets or periodontal disease.
Your oral health therapist will assess your gums and explain the appropriate number and length of appointments before proceeding with an ongoing treatment plan.
READY TO BOOK YOUR HYGIENE CARE?
Book a dental hygiene appointment in Stonefields
New and existing patients can book hygiene care directly with our registered oral health therapists. Your appointment begins with an assessment of your gums so that the appropriate level of cleaning, treatment and ongoing maintenance can be recommended.
At your hygiene appointment, we can assess:
- Your current gum health
- Plaque and tartar accumulation
- Gum bleeding and inflammation
- Gum-pocket depths where appropriate
- Areas that may require closer cleaning
- Your brushing and interdental-cleaning routine
- Whether routine hygiene or periodontal treatment is recommended
- When you should return for maintenance
Your treatment and future recall interval can then be adjusted based on your gum health, individual risk factors, and response to care.
Book directly with our hygiene team
New and existing patients can arrange a hygiene appointment without seeing a dentist first.
Prefer to speak with us?
Glow Dental
Shop 11, 101 Lunn Avenue
Stonefields, Auckland
New patient hygiene offer: To receive $60 off your first hygiene clean when booking a $195 comprehensive examination with Dr Linda Hwang, please contact Glow Dental by phone or email so both appointments can be arranged correctly.