When it comes to our overall health, dental hygiene is often seen as a low priority. However, the mouth is the gateway to the rest of the body, and oral health is essential for overall health and well-being. That’s why everyone should be regularly visiting an oral health therapist.
What is an oral health therapist?
An oral health therapist (OHT) is a dental professional who specialises in preventing and treating oral diseases. They are trained to provide comprehensive oral health care and can develop personalised treatment plans to suit each client’s needs. At our clinic, OHTs, services can involve:
- Providing routine dental treatment for children and adults.
- Conducting dental examinations, diagnosing, cleaning, scaling and polishing teeth, and filling cavities.
- Treating gum conditions for all ages.
- Taking X-rays of teeth and jaws.
- Taking 3D scans of teeth.
- Applying sealants and remineralising therapies.
- Taking impressions.
- Tooth whitening.
- Collaborating with a dentist for Invisalign clear aligner treatment.
- Educating and encouraging clients to maintain good oral health.
- Bringing complex dental problems to the attention of dentists and specialists.
What are the benefits of seeing an OHT?
There are many benefits, including the following:
- Prevention of oral diseases: Regular OHT visits can help prevent oral diseases like tooth decay and gum disease.
- Early detection of oral health problems: OHTs can detect oral health problems in their early stages when they are most treatable.
- Personalised care: OHTs can develop personalised treatment plans to suit your needs.
- Improved oral health: Seeing an OHT can help improve your oral health.
How do the dentist and the OHT work together?
A dentist will diagnose any problems that may be happening in the mouth and repair anything complex. The oral health therapist can fix simple issues, but their primary role is prevention and education. They isolate why decay is happening by thoroughly cleaning the teeth and gums and educating the client on how to avoid it developing in the first place. They will refer you to a dentist for any complex issues.
If you want to achieve optimal results from your oral care, you need to know that clients who visit a dentist and an oral health therapist have much better oral health outcomes.