TREATMENTS

Dental Hygiene Therapy

Proactive, tailored hygiene maintenance treatments for gums and teeth, to maximise the longevity of your smile. Guided Biofilm Therapy (GBT) is the new and modern way to care for your Oral Health. It’s minimally invasive delivering superior results for both children and adults in under 30 minutes.

Dental Hygienist in Edinburgh

We strive to provide you the best dentistry possible and want you to enjoy the full benefits from this.

This is the reason why we put so much emphasis on hygiene and maintenance therapies. Maintaining good oral health prevents not just tooth decay, but also gum disease, staining and bad breath (halitosis). It goes beyond brushing your teeth twice a day. This is one of the most important services we believe we offer our patients that in the long term prevents the need for future treatments.

Beautiful, healthy-looking teeth start with a good oral hygiene routine.

Protect Your Smile Daily

Is this the right treatment for you?

Most people think that following a good home care routine alone is key to maintaining good dental hygiene. However, brushing and flossing alone are not enough to remove the plaque and calculus that build up on your teeth over time.

It is recommended that you get a professional clean with your dental hygienist every six months. They are equipped with the right tools and technology to make your hygiene appointment comfortable throughout.

A great smile starts with great oral hygiene.

The GBT Procedure

What to expect at your hygiene appointment

Guided Biofilm Therapy (GBT) is a modern, comprehensive approach to dental hygiene that prioritises your comfort while ensuring an effective clean. This innovative, step-by-step method targets harmful biofilm (bacterial buildup) on teeth, gums, and soft tissues, protecting your oral health and enhancing your smile. Here’s what to expect from a GBT session at Inverleith Dentalcare:

Assessment: Your GBT journey begins with a thorough assessment. Your dental hygiene therapist will examine your teeth and gums to detect any areas of concern, including plaque and biofilm buildup.
Airflow® Technology: Using the latest Airflow® technology, your hygienist gently removes biofilm, stains, and soft deposits with a controlled spray of warm water, air, and fine powder particles. This process is minimally invasive and ideal for sensitive gums.
Perioflow® & Deep Cleaning: For hard-to-reach or deeper gum pockets, the Perioflow® nozzle precisely targets and removes biofilm without discomfort, ensuring every part of your smile is clean.
Piezon® Ultrasonic Scaling: A Piezon® ultrasonic scaler is used to remove any remaining hardened plaque. This advanced tool targets only hardened deposits, preserving tooth structure and reducing discomfort.
Final Check & Aftercare Tips: Your hygienist completes the session with a final check, ensuring your teeth are spotless and your gums are healthy. They'll also provide personalised aftercare advice so you can keep your smile looking its best between appointments.

Our Dental Hygienists

Benefits of Seeing a Dental Hygienist

What Our Patients Are Saying

Inverleith Dentalcare

4.9

Based on 349 reviews

review us on

Clara Gore

08:29 11 Feb 25

What a great gentle experience! Thank goodness for a lovely dentist

billy darling

08:21 11 Feb 25

Outstanding service as always

Amanda Robbins

08:15 10 Feb 25

Thomas Chan

11:20 07 Feb 25

David is very gentle and considerate with his patients. He explained every steps during the treatment. Very satisfied.

Gordon Clayton

10:00 06 Feb 25

Although a double appointment with the Hygienist is not my idea of fun, Rihanna and her Assistant were as usual very pleasant and took care to carry out the various procedures with care and ensure my comfort and provide good advice for future dental hygiene. Inverleith Dental practice can be recommended for care. .

chris fowles

15:27 30 Jan 25

I had an excellent hygiene appointment today with Brianna and Peter.They were very professional and the level of cleaning was second to none. I appreciated the advice that was given at the end of the appointment regarding my at home care.Thanks!

Brian Mulholland

14:23 06 Jan 25

I had a great experience at Inverleith Dentalcare. John McAleavey was very thorough during my check-up and used a camera system to create a 3D scan of my teeth, showing where plaque had built up, which was really helpful. Briana, the hygienist, did an excellent job, leaving my teeth feeling very clean. Overall, I was very pleased with the service and would recommend Inverleith Dentalcare, especially John and Briana.

Iwona Walkowiak

11:29 19 Dec 24

I was able to secure an emergency appointment as a new patient and was impressed by the friendly and welcoming reception staff. The dentists were both positive and highly professional, ensuring a smooth and painless removal of my wisdom tooth. Thank you so much for the exceptional care. I highly recommend their services.

Dona Easton

10:16 02 Nov 24

I cannot recommend this practice highly enough!It is a delight to visit. I am treated with courtesy, friendliness and respect from the reception staff. Likewise, my excellent dentist - Dr Chris Fowles, who is highly skilled and takes time to explain all the procedures to me, often on screen, which ensures my complete understanding of all my treatments.

David Wilson

20:26 15 Oct 24

Excellent service. Emergency appointment as lost a filling away from home. Staff were exceptionally helpful and supportive. From Reception through to Treatment it was a very positive experience. Should I move to Edinburgh I would be extremely happy to apply to join their books. Many thanksDavid Wilson

Jean Kenyon

18:00 12 Aug 24

David Neilson

16:45 08 Aug 24

Great dentistry. I would definitely recommend.

Susanne Goetzold

13:57 25 Jul 24

Really happy with this dental practice. Chris Fowles is an excellent dentist. He takes time to explain treatment and options and also explains what he is doing during check ups and treatments, so nothing comes as a surprise. Great for anxious patients. He also has a great sense of humour. Staff always really friendly and helpful.

Mariam Aziz

08:46 25 Jul 24

I would very highly recommend the Inverleith Dental clinic. They are very professional and really knowledgeable. The admin staff is very helpful and will get you the information that you need to make a decision abo the best treatments you need. Dr. John McAleavy is excellent. He was also very knowledgeable about my TMJ issues and he was really understanding during the appointment and he sign posted me to the tools I needed; this made me feel that he cares about my progress and the best outcome for my case. Overall, I had a great experience and I can confidently say that will come back to Inverleith for any follow ups and future dental needs.

mattias nuella

20:16 24 Jul 24

The staffs were nice and big ups to Dr. Chris, my consultation session with him was good and he was friendly.

Sandra Johnson

19:00 24 Jul 24

Could not ask for better treatment! Thank you so much for all your care, attention and kindness for my son Jay who is having treatment with Chris Fowles he has Cerebral palsy and cannot make it up the stairs so they use a room downstairs to support Jay, Chris has been so thoughtful and makes Jay feel at Ease and explains everything he is doing before he does it this really means a lot. Highly recommend to anyone.

Jo Nash

17:14 17 Jul 24

I met with Dr John McAleavey as a new patient for a consultation about my complex dental health situation. I'm a nervous patient and was instantly at ease on entering the practice. John really listened to my background story and quickly spotted the source of my problems that had been missed by other dentists. My assessment was the most rigorous I've ever received, yet very gentle. John took the time to explain everything thoroughly and clearly. I left the practice with a sense of peace that I'd found the answers I'd been seeking, and confident I was in the hands of expert professionals. I'd recommend them to anyone.

Rosemary Jamieson

19:58 05 Jul 24

I was anxious before my first appointment with Inverleith Dental - my dentist of 25 + years had retired and I needed a practice nearer home - but I should not have worried!The welcome from the receptionist was lovely - The initial conversation with the dentist was very helpful - I learned about the ethos of the practice and felt I was being listened to - in addition this chat took place before the mouth examination so I was not in the reclining position which can put the patient at a disadvantage!The receptionist was most helpful with my mobility problems on leavingThe beautiful Georgian building is a bonus

Ookii Neko

11:50 09 Jun 24

I found Inverleith Dentalcare as I needed emergency dental treatment. They were very accommodating and managed to allocate an appointment the next day. Their service is second to none with professional and caring staff, dentists take the time to explain the procedure to the patient, and use modern standard techniques, materials and treatments. Worth every recommendation.

Your Questions Answered

Dental Hygiene FAQs

What is Guided Biofilm Therapy?

GBT is the new and modern way to remove and manage dental biofilm. We tailor treatment protocols to your needs. The treatment is minimally invasive and delivered with maximum comfort. It can be used for general oral health, advanced gum disease, implant maintenance or care and cleaning around orthodontic appliances. The products used in GBT change the DNA/RNA of the bacteria in the mouth thus changing the damaging properties and preventing bacterial production. Your hygienist at Inverleith Dentalcare will be able to discuss the benefits of this at your hygiene appointment.

Does laser treatment help for gingivitis?

Laser therapy is part of a target approach used to treat areas which have not responded to conventional methods.

Are there particular toothpastes that can help with gum inflammation?

Eliminating gum inflammation is about mechanical cleaning. At your hygiene visit at Inverleith Dentalcare your hygienist will discuss toothpastes appropriate to your needs, providing appropriate toothpaste samples to try at home.

If I don’t clean my mouth properly will I get gum disease?

If you don’t clean your mouth properly you will suffer inflamed bleeding gums due to gingivitis. For some people this can result in bone loss and eventual loosening of teeth called Periodontal (gum) disease.

Are there environmentally friendly biodegradable options to cleaning aids?

Yes. These are becoming more readily available. From bamboo toothbrushes and interdental brushes to Neem tree floss.

Apart from floss, is there anything else that I can use to clean between my teeth?

Yes you can use tepe brushes, dental rubbers or water flossers. There is a wide variety of interdental aids. Your hygienist will demonstrate and advise the best options for you at your appointments.

Is it important to clean between your teeth?

Excellent toothbrushing with an electric toothbrush will address 60% of the plaque biofilm. The other 40% requires for you to use interdental aids such as floss, tepe brushes or interdental rubbers.