Home > Periodontics > Cleaning & Polishing
Everyone experiences some form of plaque buildup. The saliva, bacteria, and proteins in your mouth form a thin layer that covers your teeth at almost all times.
When you eat, tiny particles, acids, and sugars from the food stick to this film, creating a buildup on the teeth known as plaque. The bacteria that lives in this plaque can cause gum disease and tooth decay. Brushing, flossing, and regular dental cleanings will help remove the plaque and prevent more serious problems.
If you have healthy gums, the tissue will fit tightly around the tooth and keep plaque out. However, if gum disease begins to form, this tissue will loosen. Healthy gums attach to the tooth just 1 to 3 millimeters below the gumline. With gum disease, you’ll begin to develop deeper pockets. These can fill with plaque, worsening your problems and causing symptoms like bad breath.
If you have pockets of 4 millimeters or more, your dentist will probably recommend dental scaling to remove the plaque beneath the gumline and help treat the gum disease.
Dental scaling involves the careful removal of plaque bacteria from the tooth’s surface just below the gumline. There are two basic methods for scaling teeth. If your dentist uses handheld instruments, he or she will scrape plaque from the tooth using a metal tool known as a dental scaler and curette. The dentist will insert this thin tool beneath the gum line to access plaque your toothbrush can’t reach.
Alternately, your dentist may choose an ultrasonic instrument to scale your teeth. This features a vibrating metal tip combined with a cool water spray. The tip chips tartar away as the water flushes out the pocket.
BENEFITS OF TREATMENT
- Cleaning prevents more serious problems of gums as well as teeth & its surrounding structures.
- Cleaning prevents problems like bad breath, gum recession, gum enlargement, pockets, tooth decay, loose teeth etc..
FAQ’s :
1.Can cleaning damage your teeth?
Dental cleaning will not damage teeth; it will help gums to become healthy. It causes very little discomfort post operatively.
2. Does scaling & polishing whiten teeth?
It removes the surface stains & deposits & keep your gums healthy. Scaling & Polishing will not make them whiter,but it will make the teeth look cleaner & brighter.
3.Can I eat after scaling & Polishing?
In most cases you can eat right after a dental cleaning, but to receive the most out of this treatment you need to wait for 30 minutes.
4. Is dental scaling really necessary?
The treatment, also called scaling and root planing, removes plaque and bacteria below the gums to prevent bone loss that can loosen teeth and complicate medical conditions, such as diabetes and heart disease.
5. Is scaling of teeth harmful?
Scaling is a safe and routine procedure and does not damage the tooth surface in any way. It must be done by a dental professional.
6. What to do after teeth cleaning?
A fluoride treatment can help strengthen your teeth against decay, repairing the enamel on your teeth. To receive the most out of this treatment, you will need to wait 30 minutes after your dental cleaning to eat or drink. By waiting 30 minutes, the fluoride treatment has enough time to seal around your teeth.
7. How often should scaling of teeth be done?
The dental hygienist will use a scaling instrument to remove plaque and tartar from the surface of the roots of your teeth. Scaling is required atleast 06 months once.
8. Can cleaning loosen teeth?
A: Cleaning will loosen your teeth only if they are supported by tartar or calculus and have lost the natural bone, gums support. Do not delay the treatment with fear of loosening teeth, there are ways to tighten them.
