Newly qualified oral hygienist, Shreya Sewpersad looks forward to assisting patients with their dental health care needs at her practice in Port Shepstone.
Her expertise comprises dental cleanings, polishing, teeth whitening, fissure sealants and the application of topical fluoride for children.
Shreya was born in the area and matriculated at Creston College.
Initially she studied a law degree but then realised she preferred pursing a career in the medical field.
She studied for a Bachelors of Oral Hygiene at the University of the Western Cape and qualified in 2022.
After taking some time out for some much-needed rest after graduation, she opened her practice on September 1 this year.
“I always wanted to open my own business, but I didn’t think it would happen so soon. But I am proud that everything has fallen into place,” she added.
Her parents, Prem and Bernadette Ann Sewpersad are justifiably proud of her achievements.
“I appreciate what they have done for me. They have been motivational and inspirational. I am doing things that I didn’t think I would do such as ordering gloves, buying whitening materials and more.”
She said it’s a big change from university, but now she gets to do the things that she wants to do in her chosen field. “I am having fun for now, excited that people are interested in treatments such as whitening.”
‘Nothing an oral hygienist does is painful’
Many people fear a visit to a dentist, however Shreya reassures that it’s a relatively painless process.
“You visit a dentist to fix a problem or maintain the health of your teeth, it can’t be a bad idea. Nothing that an oral hygienist does is painful.”
What does an oral hygienist do?
Shreya works alongside Dr Gloria Gigaba at her Port Shepstone practice.
“Dr Gloria sees a lot of patients for root canals, extractions, fillings, dentures and more. I see those patients beforehand as most of them require cleanings. I ensure their teeth is healthy enough before their additional treatment.
This includes scaling and polishing and cleaning teeth thoroughly, something that cannot be done at home with regular brushing.
How often should one visit an oral hygienist?
Ideally every six months is best as people get less diligent about their brushing habits and plaque can harden on teeth in a short space of time, in as little as two weeks.
“The plaque solidifies like cement and cannot be removed at home. A patient has to come in for a scaling, it should not be painful as it utilises water and vibration,” said Shreya.
She stressed that some people don’t take note of the changes in their mouths as plaque can build up underneath the gums.
“If your gums are swollen, red and spongy looking, you should be concerned. Although some might be in pain, they don’t take note of it after a while as they are not bothered by it.”
Children need fluoride
Shreya has a good rapport with children and enjoys treating them. Most who visit her for the first time are usually very excited.
The usual treatment includes polishing children’s teeth and applying fluoride to prevent cavities.
“Young children don’t have a high percentage of fluoride in their toothpaste because they tend to swallow it which is not good for them. By applying the fluoride on their teeth, it seals them and prevents cavities.”
Although drinking water has fluoride, most children don’t like to drink water therefore it’s important to get fluoride on their teeth.
At times it’s necessary to do temporary fillings on their primary teeth as it seals them to prevent cavities.
Children who are prone to cavities are those who don’t like to brush their teeth or have diets high in sugar.
Also those aged 12 and under don’t usually require scaling, however from the age of 12 and above, they sometimes develop stains due to unhealthy diets.
Cleaning baby’s teeth
It’s important to take care of your baby’s teeth from the start.
Use a clean gauze pad or soft cloth over your finger. Dip the water in gauze so it’s damp but not soaking wet. Wipe you child’s teeth and gums gently.
Babies front teeth start erupting at eight months and may cause tenderness and irritation. The irritation goes away as soon as the tooth erupts.
Early Childhood Caries affects the primary teeth in children and starts as brown or white spots on the upper front teeth and can destroy the crowns of the teeth.
Risk factors include sugary diets and poor brushing habits.
Prevention includes prenatal education, regular dental screenings and counselling, fissure sealants and fluoride application.
Oral health during pregnancy
Lots of dental changes occur during pregnancy that women are unaware of such as growths on the gums, and periodontitis which can cause bone loss and teeth to fall out.
Inflammation
Gum inflammation is common in the first trimester. An increase in certain hormones triggers the immune response to irritants such as dental biofilm.
Granuloma
Oral pyogenic granuloma (or pregnancy epulis) is a benign, soft and round inflammatory enlargement around the gum line that is prone to bleeding. It can be excised and biopsied to rule out malignancy.
Gingivitis
Most common oral condition in pregnancy. It is the inflammation of oral tissues and bleeding from the gums. Good oral hygiene habits to remove biofilm is recommended.
Enamel erosion
Extended morning sickness can lead to demineralisation and acid erosion of the front teeth. Use a sodium bicarbonate rinse after vomiting to neutralise acid on the teeth. (1 tsp in 250ml).
“It’s a responsibility to inform patients of the risks regarding their dental health during pregnancy. Also, at the same time one has to start taking care of baby’s teeth while they are still in the womb, as teeth are formed in the first trimester,” said Shreya.
Dental care at home
As much as visiting an oral hygienist is necessary, brush your teeth twice a day at home, with a fluoride toothpaste and a toothbrush that won’t hurt your gums.
“Some brush too hard which inflames the gums. Rather use a softer toothbrush, it might feel like it’s taking a bit longer, however it should take two minutes overall which is 30 seconds on each side up and down,” said Shreya.
The ideal brushing technique is the modified bass technique where you hold your toothbrush angled towards your gumline with the bristles almost inside the gums. Brush in circles on two or three teeth at a time, inside and outside, sweeping the plaque out of the lining of your gums.
Brushing twice day is imperative as the pH (acidity or alkinity) in your mouth spikes after eating.
“It will be quite high in the morning because of the overnight bacteria, the reason to brush first thing in the morning,” said Shreya.
After eating, the pH changes again creating an environment, for example, sugar to grow plaque on your teeth, which means time to brush again.
Medical aids cover x-rays
Medical aids cover cleaning and polishing every six months.
Also, most medical aids cover fissure sealants for children under 13 and some under 16, as well as fluoride application for those under 16.
X-rays can also be done as part of diagnosis.
An x-ray can pick up cavities, bone loss, inflamed sinuses, extra teeth, malalignment and inflammation.
These results are instant and is covered every three years.
“It’s to keep track of the patients who are coming in regularly, especially older patients as it tracks bone loss, and sometimes patients have periodontitis after gingivitis.”
Book your appointment today on 039 682 0288 or pop into the practice at Berea Chambers: 4 Berea Road, Port Shepstone or visit the Facebook Page
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