Tartars formed by the accumulation of plaques can cause gingival diseases over time. For this reason, teeth should be brushed twice a day in order to remove plaque from the teeth and dental scaling should be done regularly.
How Does Tartar Form?
The accumulation of colorless bacteria that constantly occurs on the tooth surface is called bacterial plaque. Bacterial plaque begins to form 4 to 12 hours after brushing the teeth. For this reason, it is recommended to brush the teeth at least twice a day.
When bacterial plaque accumulates on the teeth and is not cleaned, it hardens and forms tartar. Generally, the formation of dental tartar accelerates with aging. For this reason, dental scaling should be done regularly .
The tartar forms a very strong bond with the tooth. For this reason, tartar can only be cleaned by a dentist.
Symptoms of Tartar Formation
The symptoms of tartar formation are as follows:
- These are stones that cannot be removed by brushing because they harden.
- They cause irritation of the gums.
- If they are below the gum line, they cause rough swellings that can lead to bleeding.
- They cause bad breath.
- Deposits above the gum line are yellow or bronze in color. Therefore, they cause color change on the tooth.
What is Dental Scaling?
Dental scaling is the process of cleaning the tartar formed at the junction of the teeth and gums and on the surface of the teeth by the dentist. Special tools are used for this process. Therefore, dental tartar should not be tried to be cleaned at home.
Stone cleaning facilitates the maintenance of oral hygiene and proper care. Therefore, it should not be delayed and should be done regularly.
Is Dental Scaling Harmful?
There are 700 types of bacteria in our mouth. These bacteria grow on plaques. Plaques, on the other hand, produce acid that damages teeth when combined with food. It is possible to destroy these plaques without the formation of tartar. For this, teeth should be brushed regularly and floss should be used. However, no matter how much attention is paid to oral hygiene, some people are prone to tartar. If the formed tartar is not cleaned, gum diseases may occur.
It would be wrong to say that tartar cleaning is a harmful process . On the contrary , when dental scaling is not performed, there is a possibility of deterioration of oral and dental health.
How is Dental Scaling Performed?
Stone cleaning is done by specialist dentists in dental clinics. Mostly, dental tartar is cleaned with special hand tools and ultrasonic devices. In some cases, laser devices can also be used.
After the plaque and tartar are removed from the mouth, the tooth surface is polished with special polishing agents and brushes. As the rough structure of the tooth surface decreases, new plaque formation becomes more difficult. If oral and dental hygiene is taken care of after cleaning, the formation of tartar can be delayed and even prevented at the maximum level.
How Long Does Dental Scaling Take?
The duration of tartar cleaning varies according to the depth and amount of tartar. Dental scaling, which takes 25-30 minutes on average , can take up to 1 hour in some cases. It can be finished in a single session, or in cases where there is excessive stone accumulation or very deep gingival pockets, the number of sessions may need to be increased.
What Should Be Considered After?
The things you should pay attention to after the treatment are as follows:
- In order for the gums to heal faster, mouthwash with salt water and painkillers should be used in case of any pain.
- Dental care should be given importance after treatment. Teeth should be brushed at least 2 times a day. Necessary protocols such as dental floss or mouthwash should be applied for interface cleaning. In addition, a dentist should be checked every 6 months.
- In terms of tooth sensitivity, direct contact with very hot or very cold foods should be avoided for a few days.
For detailed information about what you should pay attention to after the procedure, you can take a look at our article “What Should Be Considered After Dental Scaling?”
