An oral hygienist prevents and treats dental problems such as tooth decay and gum conditions. By obtaining the appropriate oral care, you are assured of healthy teeth and you keep your gums healthy. We advise you to have your teeth, molars, and gums thoroughly cleaned by an oral hygienist twice a year. That way, you will keep your teeth clean and prevent problems.
The role of the oral hygienist is to keep your teeth healthy and avoid and treat problems with your teeth, molars, and gums. If you are suffering from inflamed and/or bleeding gums, we recommend making an appointment. You do not require a referral from a dentist to visit an oral hygienist. You can therefore make an appointment whenever you wish. It is advisable to visit the practice if you are suffering from the following symptoms:
The most important task of oral hygienist is to prevent dental problems and to manage these problems. By giving appropriate dental information and advice, you can ensure you follow good oral hygiene practices. In addition, the oral hygienist carries out the following tasks:
We advise you to visit an oral hygienist twice a year for good oral health. This will ensure timely detection or prevention of dental problems.
The oral hygienist starts the treatment by analysing your teeth in order to assess your oral health. We do this by means of a so-called DPSI score. During this examination, we check the health of your gums by measuring the space between your gums and teeth. The result is a score on a scale from 0 to 4. Based on the outcome of the test, we formulate a treatment plan and carry out the necessary treatments.
| DPSI | Description |
|---|---|
| 0 | Your gums are healthy: they are not bleeding, are pink in colour, and wrap snugly around the teeth |
| 1 | Your gums are mildly inflamed and bleed when measured |
| 2 | You have gingivitis* and tartar |
| 3- | You are suffering from the early stages of periodontal disease** |
| 3+ | You are suffering from advanced periodontal disease.** The roots of your teeth are exposed and you have bone loss |
| 4 | The periodontal disease is spreading to the root tips and you may lose your teeth and molars |
*Gingivitis: plaque causes infection of the gum edges
**Periodontal disease: the infection is expanding to the jawbone
Good oral hygiene is important for your teeth, gums, and general health. You can avoid many dental problems by devoting sufficient attention to your teeth.
Oral hygienist charges are determined by the Dutch Healthcare Authority (NZa). Your costs depend on what procedures the oral hygienist carries out for you. You can find a list of the most common treatments below.
| M01 | Preventative information and instruction, per 5 minutes | € 12,39 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| M03 | Teeth cleaning, per 5 minutes | € 12,39 | |
| M05 | Polishing and treatment of milk teeth | € 24,87 | |
| Fluoride treatment, method 1 | € 27,63 | ||
| T22 | Standard root scaling | € 22,10 | |
| T11 | Gum examination and status of pockets | € 146,43 | |
| T12 | Gum examination with periodontium status | € 160,25 |
Up to the age of 18, the costs for oral hygienist treatment are covered by your health insurer’s basic insurance policy. If you are 18 years or older, this basic insurance policy does not cover these costs. Do you have supplementary dental insurance? Then it is very likely that costs will be covered. In case of doubt, it is advisable to check with your insurance provider before you undergo treatment.
Would you like to make an appointment with an oral hygienist in Amsterdam? View the following dental practices and find the one closest to you.