Maintaining proper oral cavity hygiene helps retain healthy teeth for years to come as well as prevent oral cavity illnesses and maintain results of the treatment. Regular (every 6 months) visits allow the dentist to monitor the state of the teeth, recognize illnesses in an early stadium and treat them quickly. The dentist can also recommend a professional procedure that improve oral hygiene, such as professional teeth cleaning (tartar removal, polishing), sealing or lacquering.
Tartar removal
To ensure best oral hygiene and prevent decay our clinic recommends scaling at least twice a year.
Scaling
Scaling is a rather cheap dental procedure which removes tartar. Tartar is hardened plaque, which forms as a result of bacteria and food leftovers depositing on the teeth. Scaling works by using a dental scaler, which removes tartar with a special tip which vibrates incredibly quickly (ultrasound vibrations). When the tip touches the tartar, the latter breaks apart and falls off of a tooth. It also has antibacterial properties.
Tartar not only poses a threat to teeth and gums, but is also an aesthetical problem. It’s very porous, so plaque can form more easily. People who frequently drink tea, coffee or smoke should pay special attention to prevention of tartar buildup.
Tartar can be a cause of many oral cavity illnesses, such as:
- Periodontitis
- Decay
- Cavities
- Gingivitis
- Exposure of tooth roots
Tartar has a negative impact on the entire body. Studies show, that bacteria forming tartar can enter the bloodstream and cause damage to arteries in the heart and the brain, causing heart attacks and strokes. Bacteria that causes periodontitis increase the odds of cardiovascular disease more than smoking.
Scaling is a procedure used in preventative and aesthetic dentistry, and can be performed by a dentist or a dental hygienist. We are all subjects to tartar formation, so scaling is a universal, routine procedure. Sediments can easily form on tartar, which leads to unsightly discolorations.
Scaling should be used more often by people who:
- Smoke
- Drink tea, coffee or red wine
- Are susceptible to periontium and tooth diseases
Everyone can prevent tartar formation by themselves. By brushing well with a correctly chosen toothbrush, flossing and rinsing or using an irrigator you can minimize tartar formation. However, even with proper hygiene tartar can still form, so a professional cleaning twice a year can go a very long way.
Sanding
A professional teeth cleaning is composed of scaling and sanded. Sanding is microscopic particles hot at a pressure safe for the teeth that remove tartar that would be hard to reach by the dental scaler. Sanding also removes any plaque or sediment from the surface of the teeth,
Gums can be sensitive for some time after sanding, but the process itself is painless and lasts only 20-25 minutes. It should be performed twice a year, and for smokers, people wearing braces or drinking tea or coffee, once every 4 months. An exact prophylaxis plan can be prepared by a dentist. We also recommend sanding to improve the aesthetic aspect.
After sanding, Patients notice:
- Disappearing discolorations
- Removal of plaque
- Removal of tartar
- Clean surfaces between the teeth
- Visibly whiter teeth.
A professional cleaning is completed by polishing. It can remove all sediments from the teeth. The process is entirely painless – the dentist removes sediment with the use of specialized polishing rubber tips. Polishing smoothens the surface of teeth, which makes it much harder for bacteria to stick to it again.
Sealing
Sealing is a painless process of sealing the grooves and crevices in molars and premolars. It protects the tooth from bacteria and prevents decay.
Lacquering
Lacquering strengthens the teeth and makes them more resilient to decay, remineralizes them and prevents demineralization – harmful bacteria impact. A special lacquer which coats the teeth has a high concentration of bactericidal fluoride. The process should be done prophylactically during every control appointment, and in children even more often (every 3-6 months).