Hygienization - Questions & Answers
Tartar is formed from bacterial plaque that accumulates on the teeth as a result of poor oral hygiene. The presence of tartar has nothing to do with drinking tap water.
Scaling is a procedure involving the removal of supragingival and subgingival calculus using an ultrasonic scaler. The device, which is operated by a dental hygienist, vibrates at a frequency of tens of thousands of times per second. Applied to the surface of the tooth, the tip vibrates the tartar and causes it to fall off. The treatment takes place in a stream of atomized water.
The procedure for removing calculus is not a pleasant one, but it is usually not painful. The level of discomfort experienced depends largely on the amount of stone deposited subgingivally, as well as individual sensitivity and perception of pain. The procedure can be performed under local anesthesia.
According to the World Health Organization, professional tartar removal should take place once every six months. Such a procedure should be combined with a follow-up visit to the dentist.
The most important hygienic procedure to prevent the formation of tartar is tooth brushing, which should be done with diligence at least twice a day. In order to keep each quadrant of the mouth free of plaque, teeth should be brushed for about 5 minutes.
In addition to brushing, it is indispensable to use dental floss , as well as to use fluoride rinses.
Tartar sustains inflammation of the gums and irritates them mechanically. Long-term failure to remove tartar results in the deposition of successive layers of bacterial plaque causing inflammation of periodontal tissues. In the advanced stage of periodontitis, the teeth become loosened, and as a result, they may even be lost. Tartar can also contribute to bad breath from the mouth. If not removed in time, tartar can also lead to demineralization of the enamel and the development of caries.
Tooth sandblasting is not painful, but the patient may feel discomfort from the pressurized sand stream, which can irritate the mucous membrane in the mouth.
Scaling and tooth sandblasting are complementary procedures. Scaling removes tartar (that is, hard deposits), while sandblasting removes plaque and superficial stains and polishes the teeth. Sandblasting is often performed immediately after scaling to smooth the surface of the tooth, which can remain slightly porous after tartar removal. Sandblasting also allows precise cleaning of hard-to-reach interdental spaces, which a scaler cannot do.
Teeth sealing and varnishing are two different procedures. Teeth sealing with fluoride varnish is a preventive treatment to strengthen tooth enamel and increase its resistance to decay. Varnishing, on the other hand, is the sealing of the fissures of newly erupted teeth with a special light-cured substance called varnish, in order to eliminate access of food and bacteria to deep fissures that are difficult to clean effectively. A liquid substance with a high concentration of fluoride is used for varnishing. Lacquer, on the other hand, is a semi-liquid composite with which we fill fissures and fissures on the tooth surface.
Varnishing is performed in children just after the eruption of molars and repeated once every few years, while varnishing is recommended for both children and adults and is recommended to be repeated every 6 months or so. Premolar and molar teeth are sealed, while varnishing is performed on all teeth.
