Level 17, 111 Elizabeth Street, Sydney NSW 2000
General Dentistry
Biological dental hygiene treats a hygiene visit as whole-body preventive care. Our oral health therapists at Sydney Holistic Dental Centre remove plaque and calculus, measure and chart your gum health, and then go further: assessing breathing, saliva, diet and the balance of your oral microbiome, and choosing products that support it without harsh antiseptics or unnecessary additives. Gum disease is the most common chronic infection in Australian adults and is linked to heart disease and diabetes, which makes the hygiene chair one of the most important places in the practice.
Image of an oral health therapist with a patient
A healthy gum sits like a tight collar around each tooth with a crevice of 3 mm or less. When plaque matures below the gum line, the crevice deepens into a pocket, the immune system stays switched on, and bone is slowly lost. This is periodontitis, and it affects about three in ten Australian adults [1].
The inflammation does not stay local. The 2020 consensus of the European Federation of Periodontology and the World Heart Federation concluded that periodontitis is independently associated with cardiovascular disease and that treating it is a reasonable part of cardiovascular risk management [2]. The joint periodontal and diabetes consensus found that periodontal treatment lowers HbA1c in people with type 2 diabetes by a clinically meaningful amount [3]. Gum disease has also been associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes and respiratory disease.
Removing deposits and polishing is the foundation of any hygiene visit. Biological hygiene adds four things:
1
Plaque is a living biofilm. The goal is to disrupt harmful, mature biofilm regularly while supporting the beneficial early colonisers that protect teeth and gums [4]. We avoid routine use of strong antiseptic rinses, which wipe out both.
2
Bleeding gums are an inflammatory signal. We connect gum findings with your general health, medications, diet, stress and sleep, and coordinate with your GP where it matters.
3
Mouth breathing dries the gums and shifts the microbiome; low saliva flow or acidic saliva raises decay and gum risk. Every visit includes these questions.
4
Fluoride-free options, hydroxyapatite toothpaste, SLS-free and low-tox products for people who want them, and BPA-free sealants. Fluoride varnish remains available where a specific surface needs it. See fluoride-free prevention.
Step
What we do
Why
Health and lifestyle review
Medications, diet, stress, sleep, breathing, smoking
Gum disease risk is systemic as much as local
Oral cancer and soft tissue screen
Visual and tactile check of lips, tongue, cheeks, palate, throat
Early detection changes outcomes
Periodontal chart
Pocket depths and bleeding at six points per tooth
Maps where disease is and tracks it over time
Biofilm and calculus removal
Ultrasonic and hand instruments, gentle on enamel and implants
Removes the deposits home care cannot
Polish and stain removal
Fluoride-free paste as standard
Smooth surfaces resist plaque
Saliva and pH check where indicated
Flow and acidity
Guides diet and product advice
Home care plan
Brush, interdental brushes or floss, toothpaste, xylitol, tongue cleaning
Cochrane evidence supports daily interdental cleaning [5]
Recall interval
3, 4, 6 or 12 months by risk
Deep pockets need closer follow-up
Visits are 45 to 60 minutes. Photographs and x-rays are taken when they add information, and findings are shared with your dentist.
Gingivitis (bleeding, no bone loss) reverses with professional cleaning and better home care. Periodontitis needs periodontal therapy: cleaning beneath the gum line, usually over two or more visits with local anaesthetic, then a three to four monthly maintenance cycle until pockets stabilise. Pockets that do not respond are referred to a periodontist. Our oral health therapists manage complex periodontal cases in partnership with our dentists.
Implants. Implant-safe instruments and a maintenance schedule to prevent peri-implantitis. Read about implant longevity.
Pregnancy. Hormonal changes make gums bleed more. Hygiene visits are safe and recommended during pregnancy.
Children. Our oral health therapists hold dual qualifications in children's dentistry and provide cleaning, sealants, diet coaching and breathing assessment. See children's dentistry.
Ngan Lam, Emily Vong and Stephanie Hall are university-qualified oral health therapists with adult scope, which means they provide hygiene, periodontal therapy, children's dentistry and, within their scope, restorative care. Meet the team →
Hygiene Team
New patients begin with a comprehensive consultation with a dentist, then move to a hygiene schedule that matches their risk. Existing patients can book hygiene directly. Sydney Holistic Dental Centre, Level 17, 111 Elizabeth Street, Sydney CBD.
Call (02) 9221 5800 or send an enquiry.
SEND AN ENQUIRYMost people every six months. If you have deep pockets, implants, diabetes, a dry mouth or you smoke, three to four monthly visits keep disease under control until risk falls.
Usually not. Gums with inflammation can be tender, and teeth may be sensitive for a day or two after calculus is removed. We use local anaesthetic for deeper cleaning and keep visits gentle.
Polishing paste is fluoride-free as standard. Fluoride varnish is offered where a specific surface is at high risk, with your consent. See our fluoride-free prevention page.
No. Oil pulling may reduce plaque and bacteria modestly, and some of our patients use it. Calculus can only be removed professionally. Treat it as an addition to brushing, interdental cleaning and regular visits.
Gingivitis can be fully reversed. Periodontitis can be stopped and stabilised, and lost bone does not regrow on its own, which is why early detection matters.
Yes, and it is encouraged. Pregnancy gingivitis is common, and keeping gums healthy supports both you and your baby.
Image of
Dr Craig
Medically reviewed by Dr Craig Wilson, BDS (Syd Uni) Hons. Last updated: September 2026.
