Dental Hygiene
The smartest investment in your teeth
Everyone brushes. Most people floss now and then. Still, almost everyone develops tartar in certain parts of the mouth — hardened plaque that no toothbrush can remove. Left untreated, tartar leads to gum inflammation and, over time, to problems that are far more costly and invasive to repair than to prevent.
A professional cleaning with our dental hygienist, twice a year, is the simplest and cheapest way to keep cavities, gum disease and tooth loss at bay. And you always leave with a smoother, cleaner feeling than when you arrived.
A dental hygienist is a healthcare professional specialising in the prevention and treatment of issues around teeth and gums. They work closely with the dentist but have their own expertise: thorough cleaning, early detection of problems, and personalised advice for your home care.
In Belgium, "dental hygienist" has been a recognised healthcare profession since 2019, with its own training and authorisations. At Nüvodent, we work with qualified dental hygienists who are present on location every day.
What to expect
What happens during a cleaning?
A visit to the dental hygienist usually takes 45 to 60 minutes. You'll notice it isn't rushed — time is precisely what a good cleaning requires.
1. Brief assessment
We look at your gums, assess where tartar has built up, and ask about any sensitive spots or concerns. If helpful, we measure the pocket depth around your teeth (a quick, painless check that tells us how your gums are doing).
2. Tartar removal (scaling)
Using an ultrasonic instrument, we remove tartar above and just below the gum line. The instrument vibrates against the tartar to loosen it, while a fine water spray washes everything away. You feel vibration and hear a humming sound — pain is rare, except on especially sensitive areas, where we take extra care.
3. Deeper cleaning where needed
In areas where tartar has formed deeper below the gum, we work with finer hand instruments. For sensitivity, we can apply a local numbing gel.
4. Polishing
After tartar removal, we polish the teeth with a soft paste. This smooths the surface so new plaque sticks less easily. It also lifts surface stains from coffee, tea or red wine — which is why you feel that refreshing "new teeth" feeling after a cleaning.
5. Personal advice
We always finish with targeted advice: where you may be brushing too hard, which spots you're missing, which floss or interdental brush suits your gums. This isn't a generic lecture — it's specific to what we saw in your mouth during this cleaning.
Common treatments
Signs that you need a cleaning
Don't wait until you have symptoms. But if you notice any of these signs, please don't put it off:
Bleeding gums when brushing or flossing (this isn't normal, whatever you may have been told)
Swollen or red gums that feel tender
Bad breath that doesn't go away with brushing and mouthwash
Visible brown or yellow deposits on the teeth, especially on the inside
Teeth that appear longer (gums that have receded)
A tooth that feels loose in adults (always reason for a prompt appointment)
For specific situations
Periodontal treatment
For advanced gum disease (periodontitis), we work with a more in-depth treatment over multiple sessions: detailed cleaning below the gum, sometimes with local anaesthetic, and a maintenance plan to halt further decline. About 40% of adults have some form of periodontitis without realising it — early intervention saves teeth.
Implants and bridges
Implants and bridges require different cleaning techniques and intervals than natural teeth. We tailor your maintenance plan to what you have in your mouth.
Patients with braces
Fixed braces make brushing harder, with an increased risk of plaque and tartar. For patients with braces, we recommend a professional cleaning every 3 to 4 months rather than every 6.
Pregnancy
Hormonal changes make the gums more sensitive during pregnancy — "pregnancy gingivitis" is common. An extra cleaning during the second trimester is strongly recommended for both your own health and your baby's.
General health conditions
Diabetes, cardiovascular disease and certain autoimmune conditions have a direct link with oral health. In these cases, we often recommend more frequent cleanings and close collaboration with your GP or specialist.
Why choose Nüvodent?
Why dental hygiene at Nüvodent
Time for thorough care. Our appointments are long enough to do the job properly — no 20-minute rush job.
Modern equipment. Ultrasonic and airflow technology for more efficient, less painful cleaning and better results.
Part of one team. Your dental hygienist works closely with your dentist and any specialists. Everything stays in one file.
No judgement. Even if you haven't been in years and are worried about "what we'll find" — we help without moralising. Starting is more important than where you are now.
Multilingual team. Advice in English, French or Dutch.
Costs and reimbursement
An annual professional cleaning is partly reimbursed by the Belgian health insurance fund (mutualiteit) for adults whose coverage is up to date, and more fully for children and young people. Specific periodontal treatments are covered under separate arrangements with adjusted reimbursement.
For adults who want a second cleaning per year (which we often recommend), this isn't reimbursed by the mutualiteit but is often covered by supplementary dental insurance. We let you know clearly what to expect in advance.
Your Smile. Your Story.
We always are welcoming new patients.
Our multidisciplinary team is ready for every aspect of your oral health.