Maintaining healthy teeth and gums goes far beyond brushing twice a day. Regular appointments with a dental hygienist are one of the most important things you can do to protect your long-term oral health — and your overall wellbeing. At City Dental Clinic in Moorgate, EC1, our hygiene team provides professional cleaning, personalised oral health advice, and gum disease treatment in a relaxed, friendly environment.
New patients are always welcome, and no referral is needed. Book your hygiene appointment online today.
Hygiene appointments at City Dental Clinic start from £89.
Air polishing is available as an add-on treatment priced at an additional £20.
What Does a Dental Hygienist Do?
A dental hygienist is a specially trained oral health professional focused on preventing and treating gum disease, removing plaque and tartar build-up, and helping patients maintain excellent oral hygiene between appointments. While your dentist focuses on diagnosis and treatment, your hygienist is your partner in prevention. However, your dentist can also provide a clean to the same quality.
At City Dental Clinic, our dentist and hygienist work to ensure your gums, teeth and overall oral health are kept in the best possible condition.
What Happens at a Dental Hygiene Appointment?
A hygiene appointment at our EC1 practice is thorough, comfortable and tailored to your individual needs. Here’s what to expect:
- Scale and Polish — Using specialist instruments and an ultrasonic cleaner (a gentle high-powered water spray), we remove plaque and hardened tartar — known as calculus — from the surfaces of your teeth and from beneath the gum line. This is the part most people refer to as a ‘scale and polish.’
- Gum Assessment — We measure the depth of the spaces (pockets) between your teeth and gums to check for early signs of gum disease. Healthy pockets are up to 3mm deep — anything deeper needs attention.
- Polish and Stain Removal — Once your teeth are clean, we polish them with a professional paste, leaving your teeth feeling smooth, clean and fresh. Polishing also removes surface staining from tea, coffee and red wine.
- Air Polishing (Add-On) — We also offer air polishing as an add-on treatment. This uses a controlled jet of air, water and fine powder to gently remove staining and biofilm from teeth and just below the gum line — particularly effective for patients with staining or those undergoing orthodontic treatment.
- Personalised Oral Hygiene Advice — Every appointment ends with practical, tailored advice — from brushing technique and electric toothbrush recommendations to the right interdental brushes (such as TePe brushes) and flossing for your specific needs. We don’t give generic advice; we show you exactly what will make a difference for your mouth.
Why Are Regular Hygiene Appointments So Important?
Even with excellent home care, plaque builds up in areas that a toothbrush simply cannot reach. Left untreated, plaque hardens into calculus, which cannot be removed by brushing alone. This build-up is the primary cause of gum disease — the UK’s most common cause of tooth loss in adults.
Regular hygiene visits protect more than just your teeth. Research has consistently linked poor gum health to serious systemic conditions including heart disease, stroke, respiratory infections, diabetes complications and dementia. Looking after your gums is genuinely looking after your whole health.
Gum Disease Treatment in London EC1
City Dental Clinic has extensive experience in the diagnosis and treatment of gum disease, from the earliest stages of gingivitis through to more advanced periodontitis. We also have access to specialist periodontal expertise on-site.
What is Gum Disease?
Gum disease (periodontitis) is a bacterial infection of the gums and the bone supporting your teeth. It begins with gingivitis — inflammation of the gums caused by plaque build-up — and can progress to periodontitis if untreated, where the bone around the teeth is gradually and irreversibly lost, eventually leading to tooth loss.
The key warning signs of gum disease include:
- Bleeding gums when brushing or flossing
- Red, swollen or tender gums
- Persistent bad breath
- Gums that appear to be receding or pulling away from teeth
- Sensitivity or loose teeth
If you notice any of these signs, it’s important to book an appointment promptly. Gum disease caught early is very manageable — left untreated, it becomes significantly more difficult and costly to treat.
What Causes Gum Disease?
The main causes and risk factors for gum disease are:
- Dental Plaque — The primary cause. Plaque is a sticky bacterial film that forms on teeth daily. If not removed effectively through brushing and interdental cleaning, it hardens into calculus, which triggers the inflammatory response that leads to gum disease.
- Smoking — One of the most significant risk factors. Smoking masks the bleeding associated with gum disease, meaning damage can be more advanced before it becomes apparent. Smoking also reduces the effectiveness of treatment.
- Genetics — Some people are genetically more susceptible to gum disease. If you have a family history of gum problems, regular monitoring is especially important.
- Medical Conditions — Conditions including diabetes, heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis and kidney disease are associated with increased gum disease risk — and gum disease can in turn worsen these conditions.
How is Gum Disease Treated?
Gum disease treatment at City Dental Clinic involves two key elements working together:
- Improved home care — We will show you exactly how to brush and clean between your teeth effectively, and recommend the right tools for you (electric toothbrush, interdental brushes, floss). Excellent daily cleaning is essential to the success of any gum disease treatment.
- Deep cleaning (root surface debridement) — For more advanced gum disease, we carry out a thorough deep clean of the affected pockets, removing bacterial deposits from beneath the gum line. This is carried out under local anaesthetic for your comfort. In some cases, antibiotics may also be prescribed alongside treatment.
We also work closely with our specialist Periodontist for complex cases. For more information, visit our periodontist partners at periodontistlondon.com.
Book a Gum Disease Consultation
How Much Does a Hygiene Appointment Cost in London?
Hygiene appointments at City Dental Clinic start from £89. The cost depends on the length of the appointment and the level of treatment required — we will always discuss fees with you before beginning treatment.
Air polishing is available as an add-on treatment priced at an additional £20.
Why Choose City Dental Clinic for Your Hygiene Appointment?
Located at 35 Chiswell Street, EC1Y — just a short walk from Moorgate, Barbican and Old Street stations — City Dental Clinic has been caring for patients in the City of London for over 50 years.
- Experienced hygiene team with a focus on patient comfort and education
- Ultrasonic cleaning, professional polishing and air polishing available
- In-house access to specialist periodontal expertise for complex gum disease
- Established for over 50 years in the heart of the City of London
- Ground floor, fully accessible practice with flexible appointment times
- Clear, transparent pricing — no hidden costs
- New patients always welcome — no referral needed
- Conveniently located near Moorgate, Barbican and Old Street stations
Frequently asked questions
How often should I see a dental hygienist?
Most patients benefit from a hygiene appointment every six months, alongside their routine dental examination. However, if you have a history of gum disease, smoke, or have certain medical conditions such as diabetes, we may recommend more frequent visits — sometimes every three to four months. Your hygienist will advise the right schedule for you at the end of your appointment.
Is a scale and polish painful?
No — for most patients, a scale and polish is completely comfortable. The ultrasonic cleaner and hand instruments used to remove tartar can feel a little sensitive, particularly around the gum line, but the appointment should not be painful. If you have particularly sensitive teeth or gums, let us know before your appointment and we can take extra care. For patients with gum disease who need deeper cleaning, local anaesthetic is used to keep you completely comfortable.
My gums bleed when I brush — is this gum disease?
Bleeding gums are almost always a sign that something needs attention, and should never be ignored or assumed to be normal. Bleeding is usually caused by plaque build-up at the gum line causing inflammation (gingivitis). In many cases, a hygiene appointment and improved brushing technique is enough to resolve it. In others, it may indicate more advanced gum disease requiring further treatment. We will assess your gums fully at your appointment and advise you clearly.
Can I book a hygiene appointment without seeing the dentist first?
Yes — you can book a hygiene appointment directly without a prior dental examination. However, if you are a new patient we would generally recommend combining your hygiene visit with a dental examination, so we have a complete picture of your oral health. Call us on 020 7638 0870 or book online and our team can advise the best approach for your situation.
What is air polishing and do I need it?
Air polishing uses a controlled jet of air, water and a fine powder to gently remove surface staining, plaque and biofilm from teeth — including just below the gum line. It is particularly effective for patients with stubborn staining (from coffee, tea or red wine), those with orthodontic appliances, or patients with a history of gum disease. It is available as an add-on to your standard hygiene appointment — ask our team whether it would be beneficial for you.
Does poor gum health really affect my general health?
Yes — the evidence for this is now well established. Chronic gum disease has been linked to increased risk of heart disease, stroke, respiratory infections, complications with diabetes, and is currently being studied in relation to dementia. The bacteria and inflammation associated with gum disease can enter the bloodstream and affect organs throughout the body. Keeping your gums healthy is genuinely one of the best things you can do for your overall health.
Where is City Dental Clinic located?
We are at 35 Chiswell Street, London EC1Y 4SE — a short walk from Moorgate station (Circle, Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan lines), Barbican station (Circle and Hammersmith & City lines) and Old Street station (Northern line).
Book a Hygiene Appointment in EC1 Today
Whether you are due a routine clean, concerned about your gum health, or simply looking for a new hygienist near Moorgate or Barbican, City Dental Clinic is here to help. Book online in minutes, or call us on 020 7638 0870 and our friendly reception team will find you the next available appointment.
We look forward to welcoming you to the practice.
or
Call 020 7638 0870
Back to treatments
