Teeth Cleaning and Polishing

Why do you need Teeth Scaling?

Our teeth are continually covered in saliva which contains calcium and other substances which help strengthen and protect the teeth. While this is a good thing, it also means that we tend to be prone to build-up of calcium deposits over the teeth.

This pale substance will eventually settle over time, analogous to limescale in a pipe or kettle. Tooth-colored tartar may easily be mistaken as part of the teeth, but it also can be discolored and vary from brown to black. Accumulation of plaque or tartar can create favorable conditions for the oral bacteria to thrive.

The aim of the scaling and polishing treatment is to leave the surfaces of the teeth clean and smooth so that bacteria are unable to adhere. This way, you can have a better way of keeping your teeth clean during your regular home care routine!

When do you need Teeth Scaling?

Tooth discoloration or staining is definitely a cosmetic problem. For such problems, it is necessary to visit a dentist at R Dental Centre for the treatment if you’re unhappy with how your teeth look.

Teeth scaling treatment take place when you start noticing stain or any color change in your teeth that starts developing. Once you notice such changes it is recommended to visit a dentist. No special tests are needed in this treatment. A dental professional at R Dental Centre will diagnose tooth discoloration by examining your teeth.

What Does Teeth Scaling Feel Like?

Dental scaling can be awkward, especially on the off chance that you have delicate gums. Your dental specialist may offer anesthesia to numb your gum tissue and make the strategy progressively agreeable.

Talk with your dental consideration supplier about your choices for desensitizing the zone in case you’re worried about pain or distress during the procedure.

Dental scaling can take a few visits, everyone tending to an alternate part of the mouth. A few dental specialists partition the mouth into four quadrants, while others will perform dental scaling in two parts.

In case you’re anxious about the procedure, inquire as to whether you can plan your scaling for a solitary visit. In spite of the fact that this isn’t a possibility for all cases, it might be accessible on the off chance that you have just moderate gum ailment and are happy to sit for a long method.

What to expect during Teeth Scaling?

Our dental professional will explain what work is going to be done, why it’s going to be done, and why your teeth may be sensitive or why your gums are bleeding. One can ask for a mirror or an intra-oral camera (a more hi-tech version of the mirror) which can help you to watch your dentist working and understand what’s being done to your teeth.

You can see your dentist scraping tartar from your back molars so you can follow up with proper brushing and flossing at home. Your dentist will give you an updated primer on proper brushing and flossing technique. Follow the routine every day once dental scaling treatment is done.

Use the opportunity at R Dental Centre to get a full demo of what care you should be taking at home to keep your mouth disease-free and healthy. Dental scaling may be done with either manual hand instruments or ultrasonic instruments or both.

Next, an ultrasonic scaling device may be used to eliminate the plaque bacteria and remnants with sonic vibrations. The ultrasonic scaling device removes tartar (calculus), plaque and biofilm from the tooth surface and beneath the gum line. A manual instrument may or may not be used next to remove the remainder.

What to do after scaling teeth?

After your treatment is done, some everyday routines can allow continuing to maintain the hygiene. Brushing teeth after every meal will help to prevent stains. Rinse your mouth with water after drinking any beverage or any other drindrinkks to avoid the yellowness of teeth.

Regular scaling done biannually at R Dental Centre will help to get rid of the deposits. If one’s teeth are sensitive before or after the professional scaling, it may be suggested to use a desensitizing paste to relieve sensitivity.

Dental scaling and root planing may take two to four visits based upon the extent of oral disease in the mouth. If one has periodontal disease, dental scaling and root planning will be completed first and then periodontal surgery will be conducted thereafter.

Root planning may further involve detailed scaling of the root surface to reduce inflammation of the gum tissue. The dentist will scale the root surface to smooth out rough target areas, thus eliminating plaque and biofilm development.

Is scaling a painful procedure?

Most people find that dental scaling is a painless procedure, and may find the sensations( tickling vibrations, the cooling mist of water, and the feeling of pressure during scraping ) do not cause discomfort. A lot of people even say that they enjoy dental scaling, especially the lovely smooth feel of their teeth afterward!

Be sure to let your dentist know if you find things are getting too uncomfortable for your liking. They can recommend various options to make the scaling more comfortable to you.

What should you inform your dentist before teeth scaling?

Be sure to provide your dental professional with total health history before he or she performs a scaling and root planing procedure. This procedure has a slight probability of introducing bacteria into the bloodstream, so precautions may need to be taken to treat gum disease in people who are at higher risk for infections, such as those with cardiac problems, liver disease or a compromised immune system due to an illness, such as HIV.

What happens during teeth scaling?

Teeth scaling and root planing can be done at your dentist’s office as an outpatient procedure. You may need to schedule one or more appointments for the procedure depending on the severity of your condition.

Your dentist may or may not need to use a local anesthetic to lessen the discomfort of the procedure. If you are concerned about pain, discuss this with your dentist.

Your dentist will first conduct teeth scaling. This involves scraping the plaque from your teeth and in any large pockets that have developed between your teeth and gums.

Next, your dentist will do the root planing. Your dentist will smooth the tooth roots using a scaling tool. This smoothing helps your gums to reattach to your teeth.

Your dentist may also recommend additional treatment depending on the health of your teeth and gums. Your dentist may use antimicrobial agents in your mouth or prescribe oral antibiotics for you to take for several days to help you heal faster.

Your dentist may also perform a process called host modulationTrusted Source in which additional medication is administered directly into your gums to help correct the negative effects of long-term periodontitis or reduce the chances of infection following your procedure.

Traditional tools are typically used to perform the procedure, including a scaler and a curette. But there are other instruments available for teeth scaling, such as lasers and ultrasonic devices.

How much does deep teeth cleaning cost?

The cost of deep cleaning varies depending on the severity of gum disease or inflammation.

You’ll likely have two visits, although some people might need up to four visits to completely remove tartar and plaque. During these cleanings, your mouth is considered in quadrants.

How much does deep teeth cleaning cost?

The cost of deep cleaning varies depending on the severity of gum disease or inflammation.

You’ll likely have two visits, although some people might need up to four visits to completely remove tartar and plaque. During these cleanings, your mouth is considered in quadrants.

Is cleaning/scaling painful? Does scaling cause bleeding?

If there are only superficial tartar deposits, it may not be painful. If there are deep deposits, your dentist will usually use local anesthesia before the procedure.

There may be slight bleeding as the plaque and tartar normally cause gum soreness and touching highly inflamed gums can cause bleeding.

Important benefits of dental cleanings

In addition to keeping smiles looking bright, these professional teeth cleanings boast many benefits to both oral and general health. Here are four reasons why professional dental cleanings are important.

1. Detect dental problems early

During a cleaning with the family dentist, patients may receive X-rays to check the condition of the teeth, roots and jaw for problems that cannot be seen with an oral exam. These X-rays show the position of the teeth and can help determine if there is a need for braces, as well as showing if there are any infections, cysts or tumors.

2. Prevent cavities and gum disease

During dental cleanings, plaque is removed. If plaque is left to build up, it can harden into tartar and cause tooth decay. The bacteria in plaque produce acids that eat away at tooth enamel, which can eventually lead to cavities if not removed.

Gum disease is caused by a buildup of plaque that allows bacteria to infect gums around and below the gumline. During a cleaning, the family dentist removes the plaque and reduces the risk of patients developing an infection or gum disease.

3. Prevent bad breath

Often halitosis, or bad breath, is caused by underlying dental issues or plaque. Plaque harbors unpleasant-smelling bacteria, creating a bad breath problem.

4. Improve overall health

Untreated gum infections and cavities can lead to the loss of a tooth, but the issues do not end there. Oral conditions that allow bacteria to thrive can contribute to various diseases or health problems.

Gum disease can potentially increase heart disease risk because the bacteria in the gum may lead to the narrowing of arteries. Endocarditis is an infection that affects the inner lining of the heart and usually is caused by bacteria that spread through the bloodstream from another part of the body, such as the gums.

Bacteria in the mouth can be pulled into the lungs to cause bronchitis or even pneumonia. Gum disease can also worsen chronic lung diseases such as asthma by causing inflammation of the airways. As well, untreated gum infections in pregnancy have been linked to premature labor.

Dental Cleaning Types

There are different types of teeth cleaning procedures, and the type your dentist is likely to use depends largely on your specific oral care needs. The four major forms of teeth cleaning techniques are as follows:

Cleaning Prophylaxis

A prophylactic cleaning is a teeth cleaning procedure that is used primarily for people with a generally healthy mouth. A prophylactic cleaning is designed to perform routine maintenance, such as removing an expected amount of tartar and plaque from the surface of the teeth, gums, and middle teeth. Prophylactic teeth brushing can help people extract excess plaque and other small marks that remain on the surface of their teeth, even though they do have a relatively clear mouth.

Scaling and Root Planing

Root scaling and planing is a slightly more invasive (although non-surgical) dental cleaning procedure that involves deep cleaning of the gums, gum line, and other supporting structures of the teeth. Scaling and root planning are often recommended for people suffering from gum diseases such as gingivitis or periodontitis. Since scaling and root planing involve smoothing the surface of the tooth root and removing any existing tartar and plaque, it can sometimes take several visits to the dentist to complete.

Gross Debridement

In the event that a person has not visited the dentist in several years, it is likely that a good amount of plaque has accumulated on the gums, teeth, and between the teeth. Subsequently, a coarse debridement, which is a deep cleaning used to remove tartar and plaque from all areas of the mouth, is often used for people who have not been to the dentist in a while. The first thing the dentist does is perform an oral examination. After the oral examination, the dentist decides if routine prophylactic cleaning is sufficient or if a major debridement is necessary before the prophylactic cleaning.

Periodontal Maintenance

Periodontal maintenance refers to routine maintenance for people with severe oral problems. In particular, periodontal maintenance can be provided to people with gingivitis or periodontitis. Periodontal cleaning usually entails regular trips to the dentist to get the whole mouth cleaned. It is usually done for a specific period of time or until all oral health problems are adequately treated and the symptoms of gum disease are managed and completely under control

Procedure Steps

A Physical Examination

Most dental cleanings are done by a dentist. Before the actual cleaning process begins, they begin with a physical examination of the entire mouth. The dentist examines the teeth and gums with a small mirror for evidence of gingivitis (swollen gums) or any possible problems. If they detect major problems, call the dentist to make sure it's okay to continue

Plaque and Tartar removal

Using the small mirror to guide them, the dentist uses a scraper to remove plaque and tartar around the gum line, as well as between the teeth. You will hear scraping, but this is normal. The more tartar you have in your mouth, the longer it will take to scrape off a particular spot. Brushing and flossing prevent plaque from building up and hardening and turning into tartar. Once you have tartar, it can only be removed at your dentist's office

Cleaning with Sandy Toothpaste

Once your teeth are completely free of tartar, the dentist brushes them with a high-powered electric toothbrush that makes a grinding noise. While it sounds scary, it's a great way to get a deep clean and remove any tartar left from the scraper. Professional cleanings use toothpaste that smells and tastes like regular toothpaste, although you can often choose between flavors. It however has a rough texture that softly rubs the teeth. If performed by a professional, this tooth polishing is considered safe twice a year

Expert Flossing

Nothing beats a professional flossing session, whether you floss at home or not. Your dentist can dig deep between your teeth and locate potential trouble spots where your gums can bleed. This may seem pointless if you floss at home, but having your teeth professionally flossed also removes any leftover plaque or toothpaste from earlier in the cleaning process

Difference between professional dental cleaning and brushing at home?

A dentist uses an ultrasonic scaler which works on vibratory motions and dislogdes the debris, tartar, plaque and calculus and various desposits and stains found on the teeth. The tooth brush cleaning at home has bristles which are not effective in dislodging the plaque and effective cleaning of gum pockets and teeth.

How often should you visit a dentist for cleaning?

Cleaning is the first and basic preventive procedure which will safeguard and protect your teeth health. It should be done every six months as a routine part towards maintaining dental hygeine and strong teeth.

However for people with severe gum diseases, smokers, periodontal issues need to get it done more often as per the advise given by Dentist.

Scaling doesn't create gaps in teeth

It is a misconception that scaling/cleaning causes gaps infact it removes the tartar, thick plaque and calculus hence people feel gaps are created but the fact is your teeth are getting cleaned and is the best preventive measure for healthy teeth.

Is it normal to have sensitive teeth after cleaning?

While the sensation of feeling sensitivity in your teeth feels uncomfortable, it's normal to feel it after a cleaning, and it's usually temporary. But if your symptoms last longer than a few weeks, you should contact your oral care provider to talk about your concerns.

Tooth polishing is a dental procedure that leaves your tooth enamel glossy and smooth. At many dental offices, it’s a standard part of a routine cleaning appointment.

Tooth polishing doesn’t just have a cosmetic benefit for your teeth. This procedure, when paired with dental scaling, can freshen your breath and help you avoid tooth decay.