Our Hygiene & Therapy Team

Anna Renwick

Oral Health Therapist/Hygienist

I graduated from Otago University in 2011 and have worked in private practices in Dunedin and Auckland before returning home to Dunedin in 2017. I joined the Gentle Dental team in 2020 and have recently purchased Gentle Hygiene and Therapy a subset of the Gentle Dental practice. I am excited to continue providing excellent Dental Hygiene and Therapy care alongside the skilled Gentle Dental team.

I am passionate about helping people improve their oral health, smiles, and confidence. I enjoy working with patients to overcome dental anxiety and improve their wellbeing through education and high-quality dental care.

Esther Walker

Hygienist

Esther has recently returned to NZ after living in London for the last 6 years. She grew up in Dunedin and went on to complete her Bachelor of Oral Health at Otago University, working in Christchurch and Wanaka before moving overseas. She has worked in multiple private dental clinics in London where she has extensive experience of patients with periodontal disease, implants, cosmetic veneers and crowns, and orthodontic appliances. She is passionate about helping patients overcome dental anxiety and she prides herself on being gentle and taking time to understand patients’ individual needs. Outside of work she likes to stay fit and active, spending time with her new dog Benji and planning her wedding with her English partner, Daniel.

Our Services

Hygiene/ Periodontal Therapy

A Dental Hygienist or Oral Health Therapist is an important part of the dental team. Hygienists/Oral Health Therapists provide full oral hygiene care, focusing on the prevention and treatment of oral disease.
Gum health is vitally important to our overall health. Poor gum health can lead to periodontal disease, which has been linked to heart disease, stroke, and other chronic illnesses. Periodontitis (gum disease) is the loss of the gum and bone supporting the teeth due to the inflammatory process caused by bacteria, plaque, and calculus.

The following are signs of periodontal disease:

• Bad breath or bad taste that won’t go away
• Red or swollen gums
• Tender or bleeding gums
• Loose teeth
• Gums that have pulled away from your teeth

What to expect at your dental hygiene appointment

Your Dental Hygienist or Oral Health Therapist will examine your mouth to assess the overall health of your teeth and gums and to look for any sign of periodontal disease.

They will then do a thorough clean, scale and polish. The scale will be done using hand instruments and/or ultrasonic scaling.

This removes any bacterial deposits plaque, and calculus from above and below the gum surface. Once the plaque has been removed, your teeth will be polished, leaving them feeling smooth and fresh.

Your Dental Hygienist or Oral Health Therapist will show you how to care for your teeth at home and will recommend the correct products for you to use.

Free Dental Care for 13-18 year olds

In association with the Ministry of Health basic dental care for secondary school students at Gentle Hygiene and Therapy is FREE (school years 9 -13).

Care for adolescent teeth is extremely important. We all know that often it can be hard motivating teens to brush, floss and look after their teeth. Regular examinations are vital to ensure teeth stay healthy and well looked after.

Registration is simple and can be done at the time of the appointment.

Bleaching/Whitening

Bleaching can be a highly effective method of whitening teeth. Bleaching uses an oxidising agent that is placed on the outside surfaces of teeth.

Bleaching can be either an in-office 1½ hour power bleach, or a take home kit, or for very best results a combination of both.

In Office Bleach:  Your Dental Hygienist or Oral Health Therapist will apply the bleach in the chair. This is a 37.5% hydrogen peroxide bleaching gel. It gives whiter, brighter teeth after just one hour.

Take Home Bleach:  Take home whitening gel offers sustained whitening in the comfort of your own home. An impression is made of your teeth, and a custom-made tray like a very thin mouth guard is made to fit your teeth. The whitening gel is delivered to your teeth via the custom tray. Take home bleaching uses a 9.5% hydrogen peroxide gel that is worn for 30 minutes a day. Take home bleaching takes 7-10 days or until desired results are achieved.