A Day in the Life of a Dental Hygienist at Our Norwich Practice

Dental hygiene is one of the most important aspects of maintaining a healthy smile and preventing oral diseases. However, brushing and flossing alone may not be enough to keep your teeth and gums in optimal condition. It can be very helpful to have regular appointments with a dental hygienist, who can provide professional cleaning, advice and treatment for your oral health.

Kimberley Souter, one of our dental hygienists at Norfolk Dental Specialists, has kindly taken some time out of her busy day to share some of her insights and experiences of working in this rewarding profession.

Kim worked as a Dental Nurse and Practice Manager before qualifying as a Dental Hygienist from the Royal College of Surgeons in 2014. On graduating, she received the Carol Chivers Memorial Award in recognition of the excellent standard of care she gave her patients.

What is your typical daily schedule like?

“I usually see around ten patients a day and have a variety of appointment types, from seeing patients for their first visit and giving them a new personalised oral hygiene routine to carrying out deep cleaning for patients with periodontal disease.”

What are your main responsibilities as a dental hygienist?

“Educating patients on oral health and hygiene, identifying oral pathology, and treating periodontal disease.”

What are some of the challenges and rewards of your job?

“Motivating patients to change their behaviour, such as improving their oral hygiene, stopping smoking and changing diet can be difficult but it is very rewarding when patients manage this and see the results.”

How do you stay up-to-date on the latest dental hygiene practices?

“I attend courses and I’m involved in discussion groups with other hygienists.”

What do you enjoy most about being a dental hygienist?

“Carrying out treatment on patients with advanced gum disease and seeing the improvements afterwards.”

What are some of the most common questions you get from patients?

“Which mouthwash they should use to help keep their teeth clean, when in fact mouthwash does not really help with this!”

We hope you enjoyed this glimpse into the daily life of a dental hygienist at our Norwich practice. If you have any questions or concerns about your oral health, and you would like to book an appointment with one of our hygienists to discuss treatment, please contact us today by calling 01603 632525. We look forward to hearing from you and helping you achieve a healthy and beautiful smile.