Many of you probably thought, "Oh,
typical dentist talk," after reading the title of this article. However, clinical practice and scientific research
do a great job of proving this thesis, and in today's post, I'll try to
explain why as simply as possible. Contrary to appearances, its aim is to
reduce, not increase, the amount of my work
The optimal frequency for undergoing professional hygiene procedures
in a dental office is once every six months, for some patients
with good home hygiene, once a year is sufficient.
The tartar that is removed during such a procedure is
mineralized dental plaque. This plaque is nothing more than a mixture of saliva components,
food residues, and colonies of various species of bacteria, including
those causing cavities. Plaque can be removed during mechanical cleaning
of the teeth, which means brushing and flossing. In situations where a patient
irregularly or inadequately cleans the surfaces of their teeth and bacterial
plaque remains on them, ions present in saliva cause its
mineralization, transforming it into so-called tartar, which cannot be
removed by home methods. The first calcification foci appear after about
6 hours, and noticeable mineralization of the plaque is usually visible after 3 days.
The most commonly neglected areas are around the gum line, known as the cervical
areas of the teeth, as well as on the contact surfaces between teeth. Paying attention
to ensure that the bristles of the toothbrush cover the entire surface of the tooth (including
the root in the case of uncorrected recessions) and regular flossing
will help reduce accumulating bacterial plaque, and thus the formation
of tartar.
Tartar can be yellow, brown, or sometimes, due to
pigments ingested with food, drinks, or cigarette smoke, black. Most often, patients notice the problem for aesthetic reasons,
but unremoved tartar can cause many serious diseases
developing silently. The "hero" of this article accumulating under the gums
causes inflammation of the gums, and even their recession. Such a persistent condition
leads to tooth loosening and loss, known as periodontitis. Moreover,
tartar, due to its rough surface, increases the adherence
of bacteria and food components that feed them, significantly
increasing the risk of cavities.
It's healthier, cheaper, and less time-consuming to ensure regular,
professional oral hygiene. It should also be remembered that no
dental materials currently available can 100%
replace the natural tissues of the teeth. Therefore, maintaining
appropriate intervals between hygiene procedures is a great
investment in yourself, the aesthetics and health of your smile, and consequently, good
well-being.
What exactly is this mysteriously sounding hygiene? Usually, this
term encompasses scaling and sandblasting. Scaling is a tooth-safe
procedure for removing tartar deposits conducted by a dentist
or a qualified dental hygienist. There are several
methods: mechanical, manual, sonic and ultrasonic, laser, and
chemical. The most popular is the manual and ultrasonic method (sometimes
a combination of these two). In the manual method, hand
tools are used, specifically a whole set of tools adapted to all
nooks where tartar may accumulate, including those hidden under the gum.
A more effective and precise method is removing deposits using
an ultrasonic scaler. This device, through vibrations, crushes the tartar,
allowing its removal. During the procedure, two
tips are used, one for cleaning supragingival surfaces, the other for
cleaning subgingival surfaces. The advantages of this method also include
efficiency and minimizing bleeding. Sandblasting involves cleaning
teeth with a special powder ejected by a so-called sandblaster under
pressure. The particles hitting the tooth surfaces are hard enough
to remove deposits and stains, yet gentle enough not to
damage the hard tissues of the tooth. Many patients notice
improved tooth color after sandblasting. At the end of the visit, polishing
and covering the teeth with a protective paste is performed. Polishing provides smoothness to the teeth, and
thus reduces the adherence of food residues and bacteria.
It wouldn't be fair not to mention the darker sides of the procedure.
Routinely, the procedure is performed without anesthesia (which is good news,
especially for those who dislike needles), but during hygiene, discomfort,
and sometimes mild pain and bleeding may occur, especially when
removing subgingival tartar. Unpleasant sensations are heightened in
patients suffering from sensitivity, which sometimes persists or appears
after the procedure. Don't worry, this condition usually doesn't last long, and there are pastes available on the market that reduce these unwanted symptoms thanks to the presence of substances that
close exposed dentinal tubules, protecting the naked
nerve endings running through them.
For some patients, scaling needs to be performed under antibiotic
protection. According to the latest recommendations of the Polish Dental
Society and the National Antibiotic Protection Program, these include
patients at the highest risk of developing infectious endocarditis
(IE), such as individuals:
• with an implanted artificial heart valve,
• who had valve repair using artificial material,
• with uncorrected cyanotic congenital heart defect, corrected in the last 6
months using artificial material, or corrected with
a persistent defect (leakage, insufficiency),
• who have had infectious endocarditis.
For pregnant women, this procedure should be performed in the 2nd trimester and is
considered safe, additionally reducing the number of microorganisms in
the mother's oral cavity, thus delaying the colonization of cavity-causing bacteria
in the child, protecting them from dental caries.
Sandblasting is contraindicated in infectious diseases and respiratory system disorders, such as pneumoconiosis, bronchitis, asthma.
Keeping your health in mind, always answer the questions asked by
the doctor honestly.
A visit during which hygiene is performed is a good time for oral hygiene
instruction, correcting incorrect tooth cleaning techniques, as well as
asking troubling questions and getting help in choosing techniques, accessories, and preparations
suited to individual needs. Don't be afraid of judgment; the office staff
is well aware that optimal oral hygiene is not a simple
task. The market availability of various types of products and accessories can make it
easier, but also complicate it by causing confusion. Sometimes it's just hard to
figure it all out.
Considering all the benefits, it's worth taking preventive care of your
teeth and protecting yourself from serious conditions whose
treatment is often time-consuming, costly, and unpleasant. After all, it's only
two hours a year, which on average has 8760. Do you have any questions?
Feel free to comment or visit the office